How to become a corrections officer in New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Corrections hires state corrections officers under the title Correctional Police Officer. New officers start at $55,081 a year, rising to $123,104. You must be at least 18.
Pay
| Starting salary | $55,081 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $123,104 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
NJDOC figures are marked 'approximate pay as of July 2026'. Academy: Correctional Police Officer Apprentice at $50,000/yr (about $24/hr). After graduation: $55,081 (about $26/hr) during 12 months of on-the-job training. Then Senior Correctional Police Officer, starting $75,661 (about $36/hr) and topping out at $123,104 (about $59/hr). Annual step increases plus across-the-board raises; years to reach top not stated. $2,200/yr uniform allowance; overtime at 1.5x.
Source:[nj.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- Driver's license valid in New Jersey
- Eligible to possess a firearm under state and federal law
- Pass background check (employment, driving, domestic violence and criminal history)
- Medical and psychological exams and urine samples
- Pass the NJ Police Training Commission Physical Training Assessment
- New Jersey residency (NJ First Act) unless exempted
- Civil Service exam not required
Source:[nj.gov]
Hiring process
- Pre-employment processing: application, initial background check, preliminary physical fitness assessment
- Physical fitness: optional Pre-Employment Preparation Program; PTC Physical Training Assessment within 12 weeks of academy start
- Full background investigation: interviews, residence/workplace visits, employer references
- Medical processing: medical exam (blood, vision, hearing, chest X-ray, EKG), online psychological exam, psychologist interview
- 19-week academy
- Graduation and swearing-in as Correctional Police Officer
Source:[nj.gov]
Academy
19 weeks, paid. 19-week NJ Police Training Commission course at the Correctional Staff Training Academy in Sea Girt, in-residence or non-residential. Apprentices are paid biweekly on a $50,000 annual basis (as of July 2026).[nj.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey (PFRS), Tier 3
- Benefit formula: Service: 2%/yr under 20 yrs; 50% FC at 20-24; 2%/yr first 30 + 1%/yr over 30. Special (25+ yrs): 60% FC + 1%/yr over 25, max 65%. Tier 3 FC = average of the best three fiscal years of membership.
- When you can retire: Service retirement at age 55 with no minimum service; special retirement at any age with 25 years of PFRS service; deferred retirement at 55 with 10+ years
Source:[nj.gov]
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-23. Pay plans change; confirm with the employer before applying.