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Agricultural Inspector

Overview and Key Facts

Man inspecting ag
Education
Education
Post high school credential
Median Pay
Median Pay
$50,990
Job Growth
Job Growth
1.50%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
14,900

What Do They Do?

An agricultural inspector could...

 
peanuts
Inspect a peanut processing plant to check for salmonella bacteria contamination.
cows
Review a farm's feeding practices to ensure no meat is getting into the feed of chickens or cows.
peaches
Analyze a shipment of peaches to check its levels of pesticides.
cart of sausages
Test samples at meat-packing plants for the presence of diseases.
 
peanuts cows peaches cart of sausages

Overview Listen to this section

Who works to protect the public health from food-borne illnesses? Agricultural inspectors. Everyone needs to eat, and agricultural inspectors work to ensure the quality and safety of the food supply to determine if they are in compliance. They also inspect farms, businesses, and food-processing plants to determine if they are in compliance with government food regulations and laws.
Watch this video to see what a food inspector does to help keep our food supply safe when inspecting a large grocery store.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75V_Ob7hg-k

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Agricultural Inspector?


  1. Quality Control Analysis: ?
  2. Active Listening: ?
  3. Monitoring: ?
  4. Reading Comprehension: ?
  5. Critical Thinking: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Agricultural Inspector might do:
  • Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat.
  • Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
No data available for some states (white on the map)

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Agricultural Inspector Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Agricultural Inspector jobs (1.50%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming an Agricultural Inspector

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Post high school credential ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

Aspiring inspectors should take college courses in the areas of biology or agricultural science. Most positions require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. Candidates should also search out relevant work experience, such as working on a farm or in a meat-processing plant. Moreover, knowledge of laws and regulations in the field is imperative; on-the-job training will help to familiarize inspectors with inspection procedures.

Companies That Hire Agricultural Inspectors

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Nature of the Work

Agricultural inspectors make sure that businesses comply with federal and state laws and regulations that govern the health, quality, and safety of meat, poultry, egg products, fruits, and vegetables. They also inspect food- and meat-processing plants to ensure that the facilities meet quality standards. They strive to protect public health and well-being by protecting the public from foodborne illness. Most agricultural inspectors work for federal and state governments, and are very knowledgeable about regulations and standards in the area in which they work.

In order to determine whether a business is meeting quality and safety standards, an inspector must make numerous visits and make thorough inspections of the product and its surroundings. For example, an inspector might take samples of animals at a meat-processing plant to test for diseases. They might also inspect livestock on the farm to review feeding practices and medical treatments. They might also analyze shipments of grain or vegetables for quality or levels of chemicals.

One of the main responsibilities of an agricultural inspector is the health and quality of livestock. With recent concerns about mad-cow disease, it is imperative that qualified inspectors—along with veterinarians—inspect the livestock population in order to protect people from any kind of bacteria or disease that can be passed from contaminated meat to humans.

Work Environment

Agricultural inspectors work long and irregular hours, spending much of their time in food- or meat-processing plants. Others might travel frequently to farms or ports, inspecting cargo on boats or sitting on docks.

Because the job involves finding problems or violations, inspectors might have to deal with antagonistic individuals and uncomfortable situations. The job can be demanding and very stressful; in essence, an inspector's work can have important financial and public health consequences.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Additional Resources

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