Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Enjoy Tremendous Benefits & A Competitive Salary

NJDOC Correctional Police Officers enjoy a starting salary of $51,400*.

*Approximate pay as of July 2024.

 

NJDOC Correctional Police Officers can also earn the following increases to their pay:

• Annual Pay Increases – NJDOC Correctional Police Officers receive annual salary step increases every year while in the same position.
• Across-the-Board Increases – NJDOC Correctional Police Officers receive across-the-board pay increases every year under the new contract.
• Overtime – NJDOC Correctional Police Officers are eligible for overtime shifts at a pay rate of one-and-a-half times their hourly wage.
• Uniform Allowance – Allowance totaling $2,200, paid semi-annually to full-time NJDOC Correctional Police Officers.

In addition to pay, NJDOC Correctional Police Officers also enjoy a wide variety of benefits.

Health, Dental, Vision

Excellent health and dental plans are available for NJDOC Correctional Police Officers and their spouse/domestic partner and children through the State of New Jersey’s Health Benefits Program. The State also offers vision-care reimbursement and a Prescription Drug Plan for eligible employees and their family members.

Life Insurance

New Jersey Correctional Police Officers have the access to life insurance benefits offered through the State of New Jersey, Police & Firemen’s Retirement System, and Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 105.

Paid Time Off

NJDOC provides generous paid time off, which includes personal time, vacation and holidays:

• Vacation Time
  • YEAR 1: One (1) working day of vacation for each month of employment during the first calendar year of employment
  • YEARS 1-5: 12 working days of vacation each year
  • YEARS 6-12: 15 working days of vacation each year
  • YEARS 13-20: 20 working days of vacation each year
  • 20+ YEARS: 25 working days of vacation
• State Holidays – 13 days as determined and recognized by the State of New Jersey.
• Personal Time/Administrative Leave – Three (3) days of administrative leave pay in each calendar year.

Sick, Disability and Military Leave

NJDOC provides a variety of leave options:

• Sick Leave – Accumulation of sick leave is earned on the basis of one (1) day per month of service. Permanent employees, starting with the second year of service, are entitled to 15 days of sick leave.
• Disability Leave – Correctional Police Officers who become sick or disabled, unrelated to employment, have exhausted earned sick leave and meet eligibility requirements may receive 85 percent of their average weekly wage.
• Military Leave – The State of New Jersey/NJDOC offers paid military service leave for Correctional Police Officers who are dedicated and have committed themselves in service to our country. Permanent employees are entitled to a leave of absence, up to 30 days for Reservists and up to 90 days for National Guard, with pay when required to attend active duty or training.

Maternity & Family Leave

The NJDOC offers its staff generous maternity and family leave that allows time off to care for yourself or a family member as well as time off for you to bond with your child.

Through both the Federal Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA), expectant and new mothers may take up to 12 weeks of leave for pregnancy/recovery and/or related serious health condition, as well as up to 12 weeks of leave for baby bonding. New mothers who give birth can transition directly from Temporary Disability Insurance to Family Leave Insurance (FLI), ensuring a continuum of cash benefits so that employees may stop working full-time to care for themselves and their new children.

Fathers/partners bonding with newborns also may be eligible for up to 12 weeks of leave within the child’s first year after birth. They can receive cash benefits through FLI while taking time off from work.

Disability Benefits and Leave

The State of New Jersey offers NJDOC Correctional Police Officers Temporary Disability Insurance and leave. This provides cash benefits to workers who have to stop working due to a physical or mental health condition or other disability unrelated to their work.

Dependent Care Spending Account

This is a convenient “before-tax” way to pay for dependent care expenses that are necessary for the employee to work. Money from each paycheck is deposited into the employee’s account before federal income, social security and Medicare taxes are withheld. The Employee then is reimbursed for eligible dependent care expenses using “before-tax dollars” from the account.

Unreimbursed Medical Spending Account

This is another convenient “before-tax” way to pay for certain medical and dental expenses that are not covered by insurance, including deductible and coinsurance. Money from each paycheck is deposited into the employee’s account before federal income, social security and Medicare taxes are withheld. The employee is then reimbursed for eligible medical and dental expenses using “before-tax dollars” from the account.

Military Benefits

In additional to military leave (see section above), NJDOC is a Pro Military Agency, meaning the Department employs and supports our staff members who serve or have served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces.

Employee Advisory Service

NJDOC Correctional Police Officers and their loved ones are offered confidential assessment, counseling and referral services to help restore their health and productivity if they are experiencing mental health issues. The Employee Advisory Service (EAS) is a State-sponsored program designed to assist employees and their dependents with personal, family or work-related issues.

Retirement

Pension Plan

NJDOC Correctional Police Officers have membership in the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS). The system’s pension contribution rate is set at 10 percent of the gross biweekly wage and offers retirement and death benefits for the employee or their beneficiary.

Deferred Compensation

Our Correctional Police Officers have the option to contribute to a deferred compensation plan. This investment plan allows employees to shelter a portion of their income from federal income taxes while saving for retirement. This money can be used to supplement social security and pension benefits. Federal income tax is not due on the deferred amount or the accumulated earnings until distribution of the account at retirement when the tax rate is likely lower.

Tuition Reimbursement

NJDOC Correctional Police Officers with at least one year of State service may apply to receive reimbursement of tuition costs for up to six credits per semester (for a maximum of 12 credits per fiscal year, based on grades/certificate earned) for courses taken toward Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees, PhD programs, or educational certificates.

Additionally, NJDOC offers the Basic Course for State Correctional Police Officers – a program in which NJDOC Correctional Police Officers can qualify for up to 24 college credits through Thomas Edison State University.

Purchasing Service Credit

Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) members may be eligible to purchase up to 10 years of credit for civilian service rendered with any state, county, municipality, school district or public agency outside the State of New Jersey but within the United States as well as service rendered with the U.S. Government.

PFRS members are eligible to purchase credit for up to 10 years of active military service rendered prior to enrollment, provided the member is not receiving or eligible to receive a military pension or a pension from any other state or local source for such military service.