Agricultural inspectors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Mean (average) | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| 90th percentile | $79,580 | $38.26 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Agricultural inspectors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 43 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,300 | $31,450 | $67,340 | 290 | 1.49 |
| Arizona | $45,700 | $37,440 | $55,780 | 160 | 0.52 |
| Arkansas | $42,060 | $37,490 | $48,810 | 410 | 3.37 |
| California | $53,620 | $38,150 | $93,100 | 2,340 | 1.39 |
| Colorado | $50,430 | $45,250 | $73,340 | 280 | 1.06 |
| Delaware | $51,590 | $43,080 | $82,930 | 90 | 1.9 |
| Florida | $43,990 | $35,360 | $63,270 | 520 | 0.57 |
| Georgia | $41,460 | $31,050 | $58,160 | 1,390 | 3.06 |
| Hawaii | $60,650 | $41,970 | $83,050 | 90 | 1.53 |
| Idaho | $48,650 | $34,990 | $64,770 | 280 | 3.57 |
| Illinois | $62,000 | $44,130 | $93,590 | 470 | 0.83 |
| Indiana | $48,560 | $34,110 | $74,740 | 480 | 1.63 |
| Iowa | $49,600 | $45,590 | $78,890 | 560 | 3.87 |
| Kansas | $51,630 | $37,600 | $75,360 | 190 | 1.39 |
| Kentucky | $46,640 | $36,480 | $67,200 | 270 | 1.48 |
| Louisiana | $63,130 | $49,940 | $83,780 | 150 | 0.85 |
| Maine | $41,760 | $37,610 | $66,480 | 110 | 1.77 |
| Maryland | $58,160 | $40,200 | $78,860 | 150 | 0.6 |
| Massachusetts | $46,510 | $38,890 | $89,960 | 70 | 0.2 |
| Michigan | $65,730 | $49,460 | $92,600 | 320 | 0.79 |
| Minnesota | $77,150 | $53,290 | $97,860 | 180 | 0.67 |
| Mississippi | $39,960 | $29,870 | $45,600 | 190 | 1.79 |
| Missouri | $46,220 | $37,960 | $61,110 | 450 | 1.66 |
| Nebraska | $55,090 | $40,880 | $64,940 | 370 | 3.91 |
| Nevada | $39,270 | $39,270 | $79,750 | 50 | 0.36 |
| New Jersey | $41,520 | $35,630 | $79,210 | 60 | 0.16 |
| New Mexico | $52,450 | $36,820 | $66,870 | 170 | 2.15 |
| New York | $73,920 | $44,030 | $95,570 | 340 | 0.38 |
| North Carolina | $47,760 | $34,250 | $68,700 | 290 | 0.64 |
| North Dakota | $57,590 | $39,630 | $73,600 | 80 | 2.02 |
| Ohio | $69,280 | $51,810 | $79,440 | 210 | 0.41 |
| Oklahoma | $53,060 | $38,910 | $70,820 | 170 | 1.05 |
| Oregon | $53,060 | $43,450 | $68,040 | 110 | 0.59 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,650 | $45,620 | $80,480 | 520 | 0.92 |
| South Carolina | $49,940 | $37,110 | $67,200 | 90 | 0.44 |
| Tennessee | $47,840 | $40,580 | $61,110 | 410 | 1.33 |
| Texas | $49,940 | $40,330 | $83,150 | 590 | 0.45 |
| Utah | $53,930 | $41,290 | $67,200 | 120 | 0.76 |
| Vermont | $63,630 | $54,660 | $87,070 | 60 | 2.2 |
| Virginia | $47,380 | $41,640 | $64,360 | 380 | 0.99 |
| Washington | $62,880 | $46,740 | $80,640 | 450 | 1.36 |
| Wisconsin | $53,640 | $42,900 | $68,160 | 220 | 0.79 |
| Wyoming | $36,670 | $31,190 | $60,910 | 150 | 5.57 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for agricultural inspectors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for agricultural inspectors
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Agricultural and Food Products Processing CIP 01.0401
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.
- Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.
- Inspect the cleanliness and practices of establishment employees.
- Verify that transportation and handling procedures meet regulatory requirements.
- Write reports of findings and recommendations and advise farmers, growers, or processors of corrective action to be taken.
- Collect samples from animals, plants, or products and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, or other testing.
- Examine, weigh, and measure commodities, such as poultry, eggs, meat, or seafood to certify qualities, grades, and weights.
- Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Image processing software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Operational databases
Transferable skills for career changers: Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Analysis.
Common job titles: Agricultural Commodities Grader (ACG), Agricultural Products Agent, Apiary Inspector, Brand Inspector, CSI (Consumer Safety Inspector), Food Inspector, Food Safety Inspector, FSIS Inspector (Food Safety and Inspection Service Inspector), Grain Inspector, Shipping Point Inspector.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do agricultural inspectors make?
The national median annual wage for agricultural inspectors was $49,940 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,020 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $79,580. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do agricultural inspectors need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is agricultural inspectors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of agricultural inspectors to change +2.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay agricultural inspectors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($77,150), New York ($73,920), Ohio ($69,280). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.