NJ State Trooper

Join The New Jersey State Police and Serve With Honor! The New Jersey State Police is currently accepting online applications to become a State Trooper through Sunday, April 19th, 2026. Although the selection process is still in its early stages, all prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to begin preparing immediately. Please review the requirements at NJTROOPER.COM and start your personal physical training today. The starting salary for a trooper is $77,143.30. The second-year total compensation significantly increases to $86,022.54. Top pay for a Trooper I is $152,943.54. Troopers receive yearly increments. All recruits receive $1,175.00 every two weeks. Room and board provided while training. There are several phases of our selection process, including the application process and the physical qualification test (PQT), which occurs just a few weeks after the application closeout date. The New Jersey State Police application process is designed to identify the most qualified candidates. All qualified candidates will be considered for employment. At the completion of each stage of the application process, a decision is made concerning who will continue to be processed. Only those applicants meeting the high standards of the New Jersey State Police are selected to continue in the application process. Before you begin the process of applying for a trooper position all applicants should be aware of the following: Applicants must not have been convicted of an indictable offense or presently be under an indictment. Applicants must not have been convicted of any offense involving domestic violence. Applicants must not have been subject to a restraining order for harassing, stalking, or threatening, or a restraining order for any domestic violence related offense. Applicants must not have more than one conviction for driving while intoxicated (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50). Applicants must not have been convicted for driving while intoxicated, N.J.S.A 39:4-50, within the last five years of the date of this application. Applicants must not currently be on probation and cannot have been on probation at any time within the last 12 months from the date of this application. Applicants must not have pled guilty or been found guilty of any motor vehicle moving violation five or more times within the past two years from the date of this application. Applicants must not have been dishonorably discharged from any branch of military service or law enforcement agency. Applicants must not have been adjudicated by a court or found by an employer to have violated any person’s civil rights. Applicants must not have been convicted of, or pled guilty to, an offense involving or touching on his/her public office, position or employment and been disqualified from holding any office or position of honor, trust or profit under the State of New Jersey or an administrative or political subdivision of New Jersey. "Involving or touching on his/her public office, position or employment" means that the offense was related directly to the person's performance in, or circumstances flowing from, the specific public office, position or employment held by the person. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens and must not have ever renounced their United States citizenship. Applicants must not have sold, manufactured or distributed any illegal controlled substance (N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5) in his or her life. Applicants must not have engaged in the unauthorized usage of any illegal drug while employed in a position of public trust. Applicants must fulfill the standards set forth by the Police Licensing Commission. Tattoo/Body Art/Brands Policy No tattoos/body art/brands on an applicant’s face, head, neck, scalp, hands, or any part of the exposed body. If the tattoos/body art/brands are deemed visible when in uniform or in civilian clothing while on duty, the tattoos/body art/brands must be removed and healed prior to the Medical Phase of the selection process. This includes any degree of visible and deliberate altering or mutilation of the human anatomy in the interest of artistic or other form of self-expression, including, but not limited to: piercing, skin implants, gauges, forking of the tongue, dental ornamentation, etc. No applicant shall publicly or privately display a tattoo/body art/brand that is prejudicial to good order, discipline, or causes a discredit to the member or the Division while acting in any capacity. In addition to the Tattoo/Body Art/Brands Policy, dermal piercing and scarification are also not permitted. Compliance with these standards is not required until the time of the Medical Phase of the selection process. Applicants who remain noncompliant with these standards will not be appointed to the Academy. Questions regarding this policy shall be directed to the Selection Process Unit, Personnel Bureau. When you complete the initial application, you will be required to answer these and similar questions related to the minimal qualifications for employment. If you are unsure of how these criteria for qualification apply to you, please contact a State Police Recruiter at 1-877-NJSP-877. Education - By August 31, 2026 - An applicant must have a bachelor's degree, signifying completion of the undergraduate curriculum and graduation from an accredited college or university. To maintain the bachelor degree requirement, an applicant must have completed all academic, financial, and administrative obligations to be conferred a bachelor's degree by the deadline listed above. OR By August 31, 2026 - An applicant must have an associate degree or 60 college credits from an accredited college or university PLUS at least 24 months of satisfactory employment or military experience. Work experience must equate to 104 weeks of employment, including military experience, with a minimum of 20 hours of work per week. The 104 weeks are not required to be consecutive. OR By August 31, 2026 - An applicant must have 30 college credits from an accredited college or university PLUS at least 24 months of active duty military service. If an applicant does not meet any of the above qualifications, they may still meet the following: By August 31, 2026 - An applicant must have 80 college credits from an accredited college or university, PLUS to enter the background portion of the Selection Process, with successful completion of all other phases, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree by August 31, 2026, signifying completion of the undergraduate curriculum and graduation from an accredited college or university. To meet the bachelor degree requirement, an applicant must have completed all academic, financial, and administrative obligations to be conferred a bachelor's degree. However, if this option is chosen as the minimum qualification during the online application open enrollment process, the applicant will NOT be considered for the current selection process, but moved to the following selection process based on the date their degree will be conferred. Additional Information regarding college credits, military service, and/or police academy credits You MUST obtain college credits for military schools and time served - If you have not done so already, request a military transcript of credits you have earned from your military service. Each service branch has its own system for recording military education and experiences. The Army (AARTS system) Navy and Marines (SMART system) Air Force (The Community College of the Air Force) Coast Guard (The Coast Guard Institute) Locate one of the many accredited colleges and universities that participate in offering life experience credits, as well as credits for certain military schools and courses. At your request, each service branch will send an official copy of your military transcript, which can be transcribed by the receiving institution. For more information, contact your respective military branch. Additional information may also be found at njsp.njoag.gov/recruiting and Applicants are reminded that completion of all college credit transactions signifying full compliance with this option is required by August 31, 2026. Age – Applicants must be at least 21 years old by March 2, 2027. Applicants also must not reach their 35th birthday prior to their Academy Class graduation date. Applicants should be aware that the Division of State Police reserves the right to modify the Academy Class schedule which may result in an Academy Class graduating later than originally scheduled. In such case, some applicants may be disqualified for failing to meet the statutory age requirement. Citizenship – Must be a United States citizen at the time of application. Driver’s License - Applicants must possess a current, valid driver’s license at the time of application. This is Your Call to Service. #J-18808-Ljbffr Austin Community College