How to become a state trooper in New Jersey
The New Jersey State Police hires state troopers under the title Trooper. New state troopers start at $77,143 a year, rising to $152,944. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $77,143 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $152,944 |
NJSP Salaries & Benefits page: starting salary $77,143.30; second-year total compensation $86,022.54; top pay for a Trooper I $152,943.54; troopers receive yearly increments. Recruits receive $1,175.00 every two weeks (× 26 = $30,550/yr) with room and board provided during training.
Source:[njsp.njoag.gov]
Pay for this work across New Jersey
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in New Jersey, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 21,780 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $57,740 |
| Median pay | $92,610 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $134,260 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: Bachelor's degree; OR associate degree/60 college credits plus 24 months of employment and/or military experience; OR 30 college credits plus 24 months of active-duty military service (deadlines tied to the class, e.g. August 31, 2026)
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen at the time of application
- At least 20 at application and 21 at the start of the Academy class (minAge = age at academy start)
- Maximum age: must not reach the 35th birthday before Academy class graduation
- Current, valid driver's license at the time of application
- Automatic disqualifiers include any indictable conviction or pending indictment, domestic-violence conviction, two DWIs or a DWI within 5 years, probation within the last 12 months, 5+ moving violations in 2 years, dishonorable discharge
- Mandatory retirement at age 55
Source:[njsp.njoag.gov]
Hiring process
- Application screening for minimum qualifications and automatic disqualifiers
- Physical Qualification Test (push-ups, sit-ups, 1.5-mile run)
- Written examination (one full day of testing)
- Background investigation
- Candidate Review Board (in-person interview)
- Conditional offer, then medical examination and psychological evaluation
- Pre-Employment Preparation Program (PEPP, incl. swim assessment)
- Academy Awareness
- New Jersey State Police Academy (appointment subject to funded positions)
Source:[njsp.njoag.gov]
Academy
24 weeks, paid. Approximately 24 weeks at the NJSP Academy in Sea Girt; residential Monday 6:00 a.m. to Friday about 6:00 p.m., ten recruits per dormitory room, meals provided. Recruits paid $1,175 biweekly.[njsp.njoag.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: New Jersey State Police Retirement System (SPRS)
- Benefit formula: Service retirement: 50% of Final Compensation after 20 years at any age; special retirement: 65% after 25 years plus 1% per year above 25, max 70%; deferred (vested at 10 years): 2% of Final Compensation per year payable at 55. New troopers are Tier 2 (enrolled after May 21, 2010): Final Compensation = average salary of the last 3 years or best 3 fiscal years; pensionable salary capped at the Social Security wage base, with salary above it going to the DCRP (5.5% employee + 3% employer)
- When you can retire: 20 years of service at any age (25 for special retirement); mandatory retirement by age 55 (except the Superintendent)
Source:[nj.gov]