What Does it Take to Be an Agricultural Inspector?

Career Description Inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment, and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing health, quality, and safety.

What do Agricultural Inspectors do On a Daily Basis?

• Label and seal graded products and issue official grading certificates.
• Set standards for the production of meat or poultry products or for food ingredients, additives, or compounds used to prepare or package products.
• Take emergency actions, such as closing production facilities, if product safety is compromised.
• Verify that transportation and handling procedures meet regulatory requirements.
• Inspect or test horticultural products or livestock to detect harmful diseases, chemical residues, or infestations and to determine the quality of products or animals.
• Set labeling standards and approve labels for meat or poultry products.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Agricultural Inspector?

When polled, Agricultural Inspectors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Agricultural Inspector Jobs

• Agricultural Commodities Grader (ACG)
• Certifier
• Tobacco Grader
• Agriculture Inspector
• Agricultural Commodities Inspector

Agricultural Inspector Employment Estimates

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 15,600 jobs in the United States for Agricultural Inspectors.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.6% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 700 new jobs for Agricultural Inspectors by 2026. The BLS estimates 2,200 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Agricultural Inspectors are California, Georgia, and Kansas.

Watch out if you plan on working in Maryland, Vermont, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Agricultural Inspectors Make A Lot Of Money?

Agricultural Inspectors Make between $27,930 and $67,400 a year. An Agricultural Inspector median salary is $44,140.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Connecticut	$73,150
New York	$63,330
New Jersey	$59,590
Vermont	$58,960
Illinois	$56,050
Pennsylvania	$55,700
Iowa	$51,760
Louisiana	$51,140
California	$49,950
Texas	$49,840
Colorado	$47,390
Wisconsin	$47,350
Maryland	$47,090
Washington	$46,720
Indiana	$46,070
Ohio	$45,630
Minnesota	$45,600
Delaware	$45,130
Tennessee	$44,860
Kansas	$44,750
Arkansas	$44,320
Oregon	$44,020
Montana	$43,930
North Carolina	$43,530
Nebraska	$43,140
North Dakota	$43,130
Kentucky	$42,690
Missouri	$42,610
Virginia	$42,060
South Carolina	$41,780
Georgia	$41,670
Idaho	$41,330
Mississippi	$39,410
New Mexico	$38,270
Oklahoma	$37,810
Florida	$36,350
West Virginia	$35,750
Arizona	$35,650
Wyoming	$30,570
Nevada	$30,430

What Tools & Technology do Agricultural Inspectors Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Agricultural Inspectors:

• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Excel

How to Become an Agricultural Inspector

What education or degrees do I need to become an Agricultural Inspector?

What work experience do I need to become an Agricultural Inspector?

Where Agricultural Inspectors Are Employed

Similar Careers

Those interested in being an Agricultural Inspector may also be interested in:

• Manufacturing Production Technicians

Are you already one of the many Agricultural Inspectors in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Fish and Game Wardens
• Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons