Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Agricultural Inspector is a professional role in the Farming, Fishing, and Forestry job family, focused on Agricultural Inspector work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Agricultural Inspectors do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.
Label and seal graded products and issue official grading certificates.
Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering or meat processing plants.
Top skills:Quality Control AnalysisReading ComprehensionMonitoringActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeaking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Agricultural Inspector salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS
8,650 workers
$60,500
State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
5,450 workers
$56,000
Sectors 31, 32, and 33 – Manufacturing
3,510 workers
$47,500
Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)
2,240 workers
$66,000
Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,040 workers
$71,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
930 workers
$55,000
Wholesale Trade
630 workers
$58,500
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
330 workers
$49,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Agricultural Inspector pays 13% above the average across 13 roles in the Farming, Fishing, and Forestry job family (family average $50,500).
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