What Does it Take to Be an Agricultural Inspector?
Agricultural Inspector Example Inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment, and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing health, quality, and safety.
List of Agricultural Inspector Job Duties
- Inquire about pesticides or chemicals to which animals may have been exposed.
- Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.
- Collect samples from animals, plants, or products and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, or other testing.
- Set labeling standards and approve labels for meat or poultry products.
- Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems.
- Set standards for the production of meat or poultry products or for food ingredients, additives, or compounds used to prepare or package products.
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What an Agricultural Inspector Should Know
These are the skills Agricultural Inspectors say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Other Agricultural Inspector Job Titles
- Poultry Field Service Technician
- Seed and Fertilizer Specialist
- Compliance Manager
- Plant Inspector
- Livestock Brands Inspector
Job Opportunities for Agricultural Inspectors
There were about 15,600 jobs for Agricultural Inspector in 2016 (in the United States). 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. There will be an estimated 2,200 positions for Agricultural Inspector per year.

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.
Agricultural Inspector Salary
The salary for Agricultural Inspectors ranges between about $27,930 and $67,400 a year.

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?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Agricultural Inspectors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Image processing software
How to Become an Agricultural Inspector
Individuals working as an Agricultural Inspector have obtained the following education levels:

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

Where do Agricultural Inspectors Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Agricultural Inspectors employed by various industries.

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Agricultural Inspector might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as an Agricultural Inspector sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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