Agricultural Inspectors

SOC: 45-2011 O*NET: 45-2011.00
Median Salary
$50,990
per year
Job Growth
➑️ 1.5%
Average (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.2
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2

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 does a Agricultural Inspectors do?

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

How much can you earn?

Salary Distribution by Percentile

Understanding where you might fall in the salary range based on experience and location.

10th
$30,594
25th
$40,792
50th (Median)
$50,990
75th
$61,188
90th
$76,485

Percentile Explained: If you're in the 75th percentile, you earn more than 75% of workers in this occupation. Entry-level positions typically fall in the 10th-25th percentile range, while experienced professionals often reach the 75th-90th percentile.

Typical Benefits Package

Health & Wellness

  • βœ“Health Insurance
  • βœ“Dental Insurance
  • βœ“Vision Insurance
  • βœ“Mental Health Support
  • βœ“Wellness Programs

Financial Benefits

  • βœ“401(k) Retirement Plan
  • βœ“Employer Match (typically 3-6%)
  • βœ“Profit Sharing
  • βœ“Stock Options
  • βœ“Performance Bonuses

Work-Life Balance

  • βœ“Paid Time Off (15-25 days)
  • βœ“Paid Sick Leave
  • βœ“Flexible Work Arrangements
  • βœ“Remote Work Options
  • βœ“Parental Leave

Professional Development

  • βœ“Tuition Reimbursement
  • βœ“Professional Certifications
  • βœ“Conference Attendance
  • βœ“Training Programs
  • βœ“Mentorship Opportunities

Note: Benefits vary widely by employer, company size, and location. Large corporations and tech companies often offer more comprehensive packages, while small businesses may offer fewer benefits but more flexibility. Always review the complete compensation package, not just base salary.

What's the job outlook?

Job Market Intelligence

Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk

Current Employment

National Employment:14,700

10-Year Outlook

Growth Rate:+1.5%
Annual Openings:2,200

Employment Projections

2024 (Current)14,700
Current
2034 (Projected)14,900
+1.5%
+200
Employment Change
+1.5%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection

Growth Category: More slowly than average

Key Growth Factors

    Standard growth expectations for this occupation

    What skills do you need?

    Top 10 Most Important Skills

    #1
    Quality Control Analysis
    100%
    #2
    Reading Comprehension
    94%
    #3
    Active Listening
    86%
    #4
    Monitoring
    80%
    #5
    Critical Thinking
    74%
    #6
    Speaking
    66%
    #7
    Operations Monitoring
    60%
    #8
    Active Learning
    54%
    #9
    Judgment and Decision Making
    46%
    #10
    Complex Problem Solving
    40%

    Skills Overview

    Quality Control Analysis
    advanced5.0
    100%
    Reading Comprehension
    advanced4.7
    94%
    Active Listening
    intermediate4.3
    86%
    Monitoring
    intermediate4.0
    80%
    Critical Thinking
    intermediate3.7
    74%
    Speaking
    intermediate3.3
    66%
    Operations Monitoring
    intermediate3.0
    60%
    Active Learning
    basic2.7
    54%

    Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.

    Filter:
    Sort by:

    Quality Control Analysis

    advanced
    Importance100%
    skills
    5.0/5.0

    Reading Comprehension

    advanced
    Importance94%
    abilities
    4.7/5.0

    Active Listening

    intermediate
    Importance86%
    skills
    4.3/5.0

    Monitoring

    intermediate
    Importance80%
    skills
    4.0/5.0

    Critical Thinking

    intermediate
    Importance74%
    abilities
    3.7/5.0

    Speaking

    intermediate
    Importance66%
    skills
    3.3/5.0

    Operations Monitoring

    intermediate
    Importance60%
    skills
    3.0/5.0

    Active Learning

    basic
    Importance54%
    abilities
    2.7/5.0

    Judgment and Decision Making

    basic
    Importance46%
    abilities
    2.3/5.0

    Complex Problem Solving

    advanced
    Importance40%
    abilities
    2.0/5.0

    Highly Transferable Skills

    These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:

    Power Plant Operators82%
    5 shared skills
    Chemical Plant and System Operators82%
    5 shared skills
    Commercial Pilots82%
    5 shared skills
    Dental Laboratory Technicians82%
    5 shared skills
    Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians82%
    5 shared skills
    Locomotive Engineers82%
    5 shared skills

    Skills by Career Stage

    Entry Level

    Must Have:
    • βœ“Active Listening
    • βœ“Monitoring
    Learn on the Job:
    • β†’Operations Monitoring
    • β†’Speaking
    • β†’Active Learning

    Mid Career

    Expected:
    • βœ“Quality Control Analysis
    • βœ“Active Listening
    • βœ“Monitoring
    • βœ“Reading Comprehension

    Senior Level

    Mastery Required:
    • β˜…Quality Control Analysis
    • β˜…Active Listening
    • β˜…Reading Comprehension
    • β˜…Critical Thinking

    Skill Development Tips

    • β€’Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
    • β€’Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
    • β€’Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
    • β€’Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time

    What technology will you use?

    Technology & Digital Skills

    Essential technology proficiencies for Agricultural Inspectors

    Technology Intensity
    High
    πŸ”₯

    Hot Technologies in Demand

    These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field

    Microsoft Access

    πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

    Microsoft Outlook

    πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

    Microsoft Office software

    πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

    Microsoft PowerPoint

    πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

    Microsoft Excel

    πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

    Microsoft Word

    πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

    Technology Stack

    Technology Stack Overview

    Key technologies used in this career

    Microsoft Access
    Microsoft Outlook
    Microsoft Office software
    Microsoft PowerPoint
    Microsoft Excel
    Microsoft Word

    πŸ“š Technology Learning Resources

    Recommended Certifications

    • β€’Vendor-specific software certifications
    • β€’Industry-recognized technology credentials
    • β€’Professional development courses

    Online Learning Platforms

    • β€’LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
    • β€’Coursera - University-level programs
    • β€’Udemy - Practical skills training

    πŸ’‘ Technology Skill Development Tips

    • β€’Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
    • β€’Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
    • β€’Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
    • β€’Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers

    What's the work environment like?

    🏒
    Location
    MOSTLY INDOOR
    πŸ’ͺ
    Physical Demand
    VERY HIGH
    πŸ‘₯
    Team Orientation
    SOME TEAM
    🀝
    Customer Interaction
    CONSTANT

    πŸ’‘Is This Work Environment Right for You?

    Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:

    • β€’Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
    • β€’Can you meet very high physical demands?
    • β€’Do you enjoy some team team environments?
    • β€’Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?

    What education is required?

    Education Required

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Experience Required

    Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful

    Job Training

    Training of a few months to a year