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Agricultural Inspector

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What Does it Take to Be an Agricultural Inspector?

Agricultural Inspector Job 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.

Life As an Agricultural Inspector

  • Direct or monitor the quarantine and treatment or destruction of plants or plant products.
  • Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering or meat processing plants.
  • 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.
  • Monitor the grading performed by company employees to verify conformance to standards.
  • Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems.

Agricultural Inspector Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Agricultural Inspectors say are important on the job.

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

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.

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

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.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Types of Agricultural Inspector Jobs

  • Tobacco Classer
  • Tobacco Grader
  • Agricultural Commodities Grader (ACG)
  • Certifier
  • Food Sanitarian

Job Outlook for Agricultural Inspectors

In the United States, there were 15,600 jobs for Agricultural Inspector in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 700 new jobs for Agricultural Inspector by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,200 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Agricultural Inspector are Montana, North Dakota, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Maryland, Vermont, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for an Agricultural Inspector

The typical yearly salary for Agricultural Inspectors is somewhere between $27,930 and $67,400.

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Agricultural Inspectors who work in Connecticut, New York, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Agricultural Inspectors in different U.S. states.

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

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 Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Access
  • Word processing software
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Image processing software

How do I Become an Agricultural Inspector?

Are there Agricultural Inspectors education requirements?

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

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Where Agricultural Inspectors Work

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Agricultural Inspectors work in the following industries:

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You May Also Be Interested In…

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

Those who work as an Agricultural Inspector sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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