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
$49,940
per year
Job Growth
➡️ 2.3%
Average (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.5
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
$37,020
10th percentile
Early Career
$42,330
25th percentile
Median
$49,940
50th percentile
Experienced
$64,500
75th percentile
Top Earners
$79,580
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$37,020
25th
$42,330
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$49,940
Mean: $54,910
75th
$64,500
90th
$79,580
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $42,560 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $42,330 and $64,500
- •Salary spread is 44.4% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 14,410 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:17,800
Top Industries
Food Manufacturing24.4%
Manufacturing24.4%
Animal Slaughtering and Processing20.3%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+2.3%
Annual Openings:2,500
Employment Projections
2025 (Current)17,800
Current
2035 (Projected)18,200
+2.3%
+400
Employment Change
+2.3%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Agricultural Inspectors professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 43 locations
California
2,340 jobs$53,6201.39x
Georgia
1,390 jobs$41,4603.06x
Texas
590 jobs$49,9400.45x
Iowa
560 jobs$49,6003.87x
Pennsylvania
520 jobs$55,6500.92x
Florida
520 jobs$43,9900.57x
Indiana
480 jobs$48,5601.63x
Illinois
470 jobs$62,0000.83x
Washington
450 jobs$62,8801.36x
Missouri
450 jobs$46,2201.66x
Tennessee
410 jobs$47,8401.33x
Arkansas
410 jobs$42,0603.37x
Virginia
380 jobs$47,3800.99x
Nebraska
370 jobs$55,0903.91x
New York
340 jobs$73,9200.38x
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 2025
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Quality Control Analysis
100%
#2
Customer and Personal Service
100%
#3
Problem Sensitivity
100%
#4
Reading Comprehension
94%
#5
Oral Comprehension
92%
#6
Administration and Management
90%
#7
Active Listening
86%
#8
Inductive Reasoning
82%
#9
Monitoring
80%
#10
Law and Government
80%
Skills Overview
Quality Control Analysis
advanced5.0
100%
Customer and Personal Service
advanced5.0
100%
Problem Sensitivity
advanced5.0
100%
Reading Comprehension
advanced4.7
94%
Oral Comprehension
advanced4.6
92%
Administration and Management
advanced4.5
90%
Active Listening
intermediate4.3
86%
Inductive Reasoning
intermediate4.1
82%
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
Customer and Personal Service
advancedImportance100%
knowledge
5.0/5.0
Problem Sensitivity
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Reading Comprehension
advancedImportance94%
abilities
4.7/5.0
Oral Comprehension
advancedImportance92%
abilities
4.6/5.0
Administration and Management
advancedImportance90%
knowledge
4.5/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Inductive Reasoning
intermediateImportance82%
abilities
4.1/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Law and Government
intermediateImportance80%
knowledge
4.0/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Deductive Reasoning
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
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
- ✓Customer and Personal Service
- ✓Administration and Management
- ✓Law and Government
Learn on the Job:
- →Operations Monitoring
- →Speaking
- →Public Safety and Security
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Quality Control Analysis
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Customer and Personal Service
- ✓Administration and Management
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Quality Control Analysis
- ★Active Listening
- ★Customer and Personal Service
- ★Law and Government
- ★Reading Comprehension
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 →Trade Colleges That Train for Agricultural Inspectors
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199 program completions/year
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188 program completions/year
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Merced, CA
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Southern Technical College
Orlando, FL
175 program completions/year
Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA
167 program completions/year
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