Inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment, and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing health, quality, and safety.
Agricultural Inspectors
SOC: 45-2011 O*NET: 45-2011.00
Median Salary
$50,990
per year
Job Growth
➡️ 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?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$37,440
10th percentile
Early Career
$42,740
25th percentile
Median
$50,990
50th percentile
Experienced
$64,960
75th percentile
Top Earners
$80,240
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$37,440
25th
$42,740
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$50,990
Mean: $55,650
75th
$64,960
90th
$80,240
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $42,800 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $42,740 and $64,960
- •Salary spread is 43.6% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 12,090 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:14,700
Top Industries
Food Manufacturing8.1%
Manufacturing8.1%
Wholesale Trade7.2%
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
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Agricultural Inspectors professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 43 locations
California
2,120 jobs$51,4901.50x
Pennsylvania
690 jobs$51,9201.47x
Georgia
690 jobs$43,2501.82x
Washington
620 jobs$62,5602.24x
Texas
590 jobs$51,8900.55x
Florida
510 jobs$39,7700.66x
Illinois
370 jobs$54,7200.78x
Nebraska
370 jobs$48,1404.66x
Iowa
350 jobs$53,9102.83x
North Carolina
300 jobs$45,6700.79x
New York
290 jobs$71,7100.39x
Missouri
290 jobs$49,0001.28x
Alabama
260 jobs$39,5601.61x
Virginia
250 jobs$52,9500.79x
Wisconsin
250 jobs$52,5801.11x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
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
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Reading Comprehension
advancedImportance94%
abilities
4.7/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Operations Monitoring
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Active Learning
basicImportance54%
abilities
2.7/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance40%
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:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Monitoring
Learn on the Job:
- →Operations Monitoring
- →Speaking
- →Active Learning
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Quality Control Analysis
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Quality Control Analysis
- ★Active Listening
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •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
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Access
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
16
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (12)Planning & Development (3)Operations & Execution (1)
1
Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Inspect or test horticultural products or livestock to detect harmful diseases, chemical residues, or infestations and to determine the quality of products or animals.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Verify that transportation and handling procedures meet regulatory requirements.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Collect samples from animals, plants, or products and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, or other testing.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development91% perform94%
5
Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Write reports of findings and recommendations and advise farmers, growers, or processors of corrective action to be taken.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Inspect the cleanliness and practices of establishment employees.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering or meat processing plants.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development79% perform86%
9
Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Take emergency actions, such as closing production facilities, if product safety is compromised.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •44% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Agricultural Inspectors
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Agricultural Inspectors professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value achievement
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Agricultural Inspectors
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.66
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.65
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.49
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.26
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level4.20
Stress Tolerance
ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level3.88
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.7
Integrity
4.7
Attention to Detail
4.5
Cooperation
4.3
Self-Control
4.2
Stress Tolerance
3.9
Concern for Others
3.9
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.8
Leadership
3.8
Analytical Thinking
3.8
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a Agricultural Inspectors.
Browse Training Programs →