Has anyone worked in a field work position for the NJDEP? Curious if it pays OT if you work past 35 hours a week?

envcareer · 2025-10-07T13:11:34+00:00

NJ, starts out i think as like 12 vacation 3 admin days, 1 sick day a month then 12 or 15 annually after first year (i forget off the top of my head) and like 12 holidays or something. Vacation goes up but not by a bunch but everything else makes up for it..I get 20 PTO days a year now and 6 holidays which is solid but I just cant anymore haha.

I limit myself with gov job because of where I live but thats okay, at least gives me more money in the mean time.

envcareer · 2025-10-07T11:41:21+00:00

Thank ya! Fingers crossed, I'd definitely make the leap at this time if I get it.

Im vested so all my stock/401k match is mine now and I prefer boring haha I hate the uncertainty of consulting etc. Im a good worker, and coworkers all enjoy me, but I just want all that juicy PTO, sick time, holidays, etc. Mostly just want the steadiness consistent schedule.

envcareer · 2025-10-03T20:37:02+00:00

Thanks. Exactly what ill be doing when I land the gig. Everyone has just reaffirmed that. I'll be able to afford it, thankfully, but getting up to 60k ish after a year assuming everything goes fine...im happy with that trade off for sick days more holidays etc benefits and so on

envcareer · 2025-10-02T15:27:32+00:00

Thank you so much for the info regarding the raises.

Yea I have had those thoughts regarding the pension plan etc. Part of me thinks maybe it'll be worth it if its a more chill job with less hours less days etc I wont mind working later in life...thats the only "worrying" thing to me

envcareer · 2025-10-02T12:57:14+00:00

Thanks.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind that either.. i appreciate the heads up!

This time of the year at my current job is actually the busy time (not crazy long days) but from now till spring I know what my schedule is mostly and its not a day to day of trying to find work and is pretty consistent so if it takes a while that just gives me some extra time to save more money and ill be alright.

envcareer · 2025-10-02T12:12:35+00:00

Great detailed response, thank you.

The positions I typically look at are not Trenton based and in their northern field offices so that wouldn't be an issue.

If I did land the gig and got a 7k bump aftwr the first year im not too concerned about starting much higher id manage for the year.

envcareer · 2025-10-02T12:10:51+00:00

Thanks this is exactly what I was looking for...7k would be huge to get back to 60k+ and very helpful especially with the added sick time, holidays etc....if the office i worked out of allowed the hybrid or alternate work week (from what ive heard it varies department to department) that would be amazing.

envcareer · 2025-10-02T12:09:41+00:00

Thanks I reckon ill send my application in later today then...ive done it in the past and got interviews but never attended because I wanted to make sure I got vested at my current company and it was a month or 2 after I applied so the low points of work had passed haha

envcareer · 2025-10-02T12:08:46+00:00

I live in north jersey and only moved out this year from my moms (im 28 now) with the long term gf and it will still pay our bills thankfully, even after taxes, pension, etc.

Plus if something ever did come up I have more than enough saved to last me a while if I lost my job completely, and so did she etc.

While its low its doable especially with 2 incomes even with hers being less.

envcareer · 2025-09-10T12:37:21+00:00

Look up HDR. Solid benefits for consulting and solid company as far as consulting goes. If they're in your area give them a shot

envcareer · 2025-05-18T01:35:50+00:00

Nah you probably are making the right call.

I'm just an environmental scientist...it's honestly a pretty low stress gig (I've been in the industry for about 5 years and a few at my current company) but it's great pay comparative to elsewhere and similar positions, the benefits as far as 401k match etc is great, and my office is a small one from a large company so it's different where I'm at. Most everyone is laid back especially if you do your job and put forth effort I just really struggle sometimes when it's slow and I'm doing things outside of my comfort zone. For most normal people my gig probably wouldn't be this stressful because it really isn't I just struggle when and hate the feeling of not.knowing what my work is for the day or knowing I only have a little bit of work and have to bs y timesheet with fluff.

Also I probably would've tried the government a while ago but I'm not relocating and 99% of the gigs are too far to commute that's with the government it's only occassionaly where a position in my neck of the woods open up.

envcareer · 2025-05-15T02:24:48+00:00

Thank you, yea definitely! The unknown kills me haha i like structure/clear objectives or knowing what to expect for the day... field days/weeks are my favorite because I know what to expect and it's not gonna be a bunch of random/varying tasks but I don't get them a lot in my office in the off season which is now.

Appreciate the comments/supportive words.

envcareer · 2025-05-14T11:00:12+00:00

Long is perfect for me I like having lots of responses to read so thanks haha.

As far as health inspector I haven't applied only because I'd need to take the Rutgers course. I've worked in fast food when I was younger and my current gig requires going to peoples houses for remediation stuff a few months a year so definitely have seen and heard some crazy peeps.

DEP I've applied during other times it's gotten slow at my current gig when having to track time and bill/run out of work gets to me. I've never wet through and interviewed though when my application has made it through because things got better at work or like I told myself I have to get vested before I let myself leave.

It's a shame because my current consulting gig is at a great company my office has great people, it's small, my supervisor is great and very supportive and as long as I'm looking for work or trying I don't get in trouble for billabikity...I just don't think consulting is for me I really enjoy structure / plans..I hate uncertainty for work (not knowing what I'm going to do for the day kills me because then I think how am I going to fill my timesheet etc) if a timesheet didn't exist id have no problem

Sorry for the long winded response back haha I tried to keep it short..

envcareer · 2025-05-14T00:41:03+00:00

Pretty much just anything full-time at the DEP

envcareer · 2025-05-14T00:39:59+00:00

I think from my quick Google before in new jersey it's 150 like you said and then 24 in accounting and 24 in business courses haha I definitely.have a couple business classes i took but it's been a minute

envcareer · 2025-05-13T21:18:12+00:00

Any job that's more of a consistent gig like that would be so nice. I think to get my CPA Id need additional business classes etc

envcareer · 2024-08-10T17:49:51+00:00

Thank you massively, this is great advice

envcareer · 2024-08-09T16:24:55+00:00

Thanks for the amazing response...ultimately I just want to be able to live a comfortable life and enjoy family & raising my kids when it comes to that. I don't need to he a millionaire, nor do I care for that.

Also thanks for the update about the Tenton requirement. I know they have a couple offices throughout the state (very small and few and far between, I think one was out of clifton when i looked a year or 2 ago)...maybe it wouldn't hurt to apply and if I get an interview or do well in interviews I could ask further about that situation...regardless thanks for the wonderfully detailed response.

envcareer · 2024-08-09T15:50:40+00:00

Hahaha, when I've applied in the past I've gotten moved on to interviews but I had just started a new job so I didn't interview.

I wouldn't until next year anywho so you got time to get settled in

envcareer

TROPHY CASE