Agricultural Inspectors: Career Profile
Inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment, and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing health, quality, and safety.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Agricultural Inspectors Perform?
The core tasks performed by agricultural inspectors span:
- Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat.
- Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective agricultural inspectors rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Agricultural Inspectors Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Agricultural Commodities Inspector
- Agricultural Commodity Grader
- Agricultural Inspector
- Agricultural Specialist
- Agriculture Inspector
- Brand Inspector
- Cattle Examiner
- Cattle Inspector
How Many Agricultural Inspectors Are There?
The U.S. employs around 324,218 agricultural inspectors working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -3.9% over the projection horizon.
Agricultural Inspectors Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $24,614 |
| Hourly median | $11.83 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,000 |
| 75th percentile | $28,504 |
| 90th percentile | $32,394 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Agricultural Inspectors Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Michigan | $72,300 |
| New York | $71,710 |
| Minnesota | $68,330 |
| Ohio | $65,750 |
| Delaware | $64,730 |
| Washington | $62,560 |
| Vermont | $61,080 |
| Hawaii | $60,900 |
| Louisiana | $60,170 |
| New Jersey | $59,510 |
| Maryland | $57,200 |
| Colorado | $56,310 |
| North Dakota | $55,840 |
| Illinois | $54,720 |
| Iowa | $53,910 |
| Oregon | $53,090 |
| Virginia | $52,950 |
| Wisconsin | $52,580 |
| New Mexico | $52,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,920 |
| Texas | $51,890 |
| California | $51,490 |
| Utah | $51,330 |
| Kansas | $50,830 |
| Montana | $50,360 |
| Oklahoma | $49,940 |
| Tennessee | $49,450 |
| Maine | $49,440 |
| Idaho | $49,000 |
| Kentucky | $49,000 |
| South Carolina | $49,000 |
| Missouri | $49,000 |
| Indiana | $48,420 |
| Nebraska | $48,140 |
| Massachusetts | $46,470 |
| North Carolina | $45,670 |
| Arizona | $44,100 |
| Georgia | $43,250 |
| Arkansas | $42,050 |
| Mississippi | $41,600 |
| Florida | $39,770 |
| Alabama | $39,560 |
| Wyoming | $36,670 |
| Puerto Rico | $19,980 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for agricultural inspectors shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | $58,410 | 10.7% | 0.80 |
| Middle Atlantic | $58,120 | 10.8% | 1.08 |
| Far Western US | $54,112 | 24.1% | 1.63 |
| Plains States | $53,429 | 12.6% | 2.63 |
| New England | $53,062 | 1.3% | 1.36 |
| Southwest | $50,366 | 8.8% | 0.88 |
| Rocky Mountains | $48,225 | 4.3% | 2.24 |
| Southeast | $45,353 | 24.4% | 1.21 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $99,680 | 40 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | CA | $94,380 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $90,170 | 80 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $81,700 | 40 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $81,120 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $79,250 | 150 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $78,640 | 130 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $71,180 | 30 |
Top Industries Employing Agricultural Inspectors
The bulk of agricultural inspectors are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 980 | $45,670 |
| Wholesale Trade | 870 | $55,970 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 590 | $47,330 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 500 | $41,180 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 170 | $51,900 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 130 | $44,360 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 110 | $90,340 |
| Educational Services | 80 | $52,460 |
Agricultural Inspectors work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of agricultural inspectors is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
Getting Started in This Career
Most agricultural inspectors positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Industrial Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Quality Control Systems Managers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators (Supplemental)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Food Scientists and Technologists (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Food Science Technicians (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring agricultural inspectors often complete programs in:
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 45-2011.00 (Agricultural Inspectors).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.