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Public Safety, Inspections, & Enforcement

Special Officer

Dept of Health/Mental Hygiene · Queens · Full-time · 9 openings

$40,480 to $58,345 a year

Posted until January 2, 2027 · posted August 18, 2026

Requirements

License or certificate

Exam

Civil service exam title

Mostly for people already in city service. The posting says:

“ONLY PERMANENT EMPLOYEES IN THE TITLE AND THOSE THAT ARE REACHABLE ON THE SPECIAL OFFICER CIVIL SERVICE LIST ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.”

New to city jobs? Start with the ones open to anyone.

From ≈ $19.46 an hour · $1,557 every 2 weeks, before taxes (40-hour weeks).

NYC minimum wage is $17/hr. This beats it by $2.46/hr, with health insurance and a pension on top.

What you'd have made

$1,552 If you'd started this job 2 weeks ago, at this pay, before taxes.

An hour of this job pays for about 6.4 subway rides ($3 fare).

Price anything in hours of this job

541 people had this title in the city's fiscal year 2025. Their base pay:
  • This posting starts at $40,480
  • Half of them earn at least $44,388
  • The top 10% earn at least $56,508

Overtime added $11,862 on average that year, and it isn't guaranteed. Base salary of active employees paid a yearly rate, fiscal year 2025 (July 2024 to June 2025). Source: NYC's payroll data

Check yourself

What they actually ask for.

A license or certificate is part of the requirements

  1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a state's department of education or a recognized accrediting organization; and
  2. Individuals serving in this title are designated as Peace Officers by the New York State Criminal Procedure Law. Therefore, all candidates must be qualified to serve as Peace Officers. Incumbents must satisfy the training requirements established by the State of New York for Peace Officers and obtain certification. Once obtained, this certification must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Quoted word for word from the official posting. The label above is ours, read from this text; if they disagree, this text wins.

The work

What the job is.

Public safetyNight shifts OK
  • Rotating shifts

    “Special Officers may be required to work various shifts including nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and to work rotating tours, change tours or work overtime when ordered, as permitted by the collective bargaining agreement.”

  • Driver license

    “Possess a valid NYS driver license.”

  • Fieldwork or outdoors

    “Some physical activities performed are: working outdoors in all kinds of weather, walking or standing in assigned area during a tour; assist in carrying an injured adult; gripping persons to prevent escape.”

Read from the posting. Tap one to see the line it came from.

ONLY PERMANENT EMPLOYEES IN THE TITLE AND THOSE THAT ARE REACHABLE ON THE SPECIAL OFFICER CIVIL SERVICE LIST ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.

Division/Program Summary:

The Division of Administration--Bureau of Operations/Health Police Unit oversees, directs, and protects DOHMH employees, clients, visitors, and properties throughout NYC areas on a 24/7 basis.

Read the rest, from the posting

In meeting the growing needs and demands of the agency, this Unit requires adequate resources and staff to perform these services in an effective and efficient manner.

Such services include the extension of hours of operations beyond the normal hours of operations at Public Health Laboratories and District Health Centers Neighborhood Health clinics.

Position Summary:

Selected candidates will perform work relating to physical security, safety, loss prevention, and maintenance of order.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Respond to emergency incidents.
  • Maintain heightened security level at key locations and secure other Health Department facilities throughout the five boroughs.
  • Patrol of unstaffed locations.
  • Complete complaint and incident reports.
  • Conduct interior and exterior patrols of DOHMH facilities.
  • Special Officers may be required to work various shifts including nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and to work rotating tours, change tours or work overtime when ordered, as permitted by the collective bargaining agreement.
  • Some physical activities performed are: working outdoors in all kinds of weather, walking or standing in assigned area during a tour; assist in carrying an injured adult; gripping persons to prevent escape.
  • Selected Candidate can be assigned to any DOHMH location withing the five boroughs.
  • Carrying or wearing heavy equipment and wearing a bullet resistant vest.

Why you should work for us:

  • Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as: o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.

o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.

o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement. o a tax-deferred savings program and o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers. • Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.

  • Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC.

Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health.

We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives.

As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

Commitment to Equity:

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals.

To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at [email protected] or 347-396-6549.

Skills they'd like

  • Possess a valid NYS driver license.
  • Ability to resolve conflicts and multitask.
  • Ability to attend, complete and maintain State and agency training requirements.
  • Excellent communication, oral, and written skills.

Before you apply

The fine print.

Where you have to live

Live in NYC within 90 days (usually)

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Next exam

Special Officer Exam 7328

Apply March 3, 2027 to March 23, 2027.

320 people are expected to take this exam, by DCAS's estimate. Filing opens March 3.

Get ready to file

Add the dates to my calendar

Sources

Straight from the city.

Updated every day from the city's job data (last city update September 21, 2026). You apply through the official posting.

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