Life As 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.
Life As an Agricultural Inspector: What Do They Do?
- Set labeling standards and approve labels for meat or poultry products.
- Label and seal graded products and issue official grading certificates.
- Direct or monitor the quarantine and treatment or destruction of plants or plant products.
- Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems.
- Monitor the grading performed by company employees to verify conformance to standards.
- Verify that transportation and handling procedures meet regulatory requirements.
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Skills Needed to be an Agricultural Inspector
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.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Agricultural Inspector Jobs
- Wheat Inspector
- Health Inspector Food
- Agricultural Commodities Grader (ACG)
- Forestry Inspector
- Poultry Field Service Technician
Agricultural Inspector Job Outlook
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. The BLS estimates 2,200 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
Average Agricultural Inspectors Salary
The average yearly salary of an Agricultural Inspector ranges between $27,930 and $67,400.

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
Becoming an Agricultural Inspector
What education is needed to be an Agricultural Inspector?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where 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:
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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