Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Tennessee
$51,000 / year
≈ $4,250 per month · $24.52 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Tennessee · median $49,500
25th percentile
$45,500Average
$51,00075th percentile
$53,500
$45,500Average
$51,00075th percentile
$53,500
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 salary by state
Alabama$46,500
Arizona$48,500
Arkansas$45,000
California$62,500
Colorado$58,000
Delaware$61,500
Florida$47,500
Georgia$45,000
Hawaii$64,500
Idaho$51,000
Illinois$66,500
Indiana$54,000
Iowa$58,500
Kansas$56,500
Kentucky$53,000
Louisiana$67,000
Maine$49,000
Maryland$62,000
Massachusetts$61,000
Michigan$73,000
Minnesota$78,000
Mississippi$42,000
Missouri$50,000
Nebraska$55,500
Nevada$51,500
New Jersey$55,000
New Mexico$56,000
New York$75,500
North Carolina$51,500
North Dakota$64,000
Ohio$69,000
Oklahoma$54,000
Oregon$56,500
Pennsylvania$61,500
South Carolina$54,500
Tennessee$51,000
Texas$59,500
Utah$55,500
Vermont$69,500
Virginia$53,000
Washington$65,000
Wisconsin$57,500
Wyoming$41,500
About this role
Agricultural Inspector is a professional role within the function in the Farming, Fishing, and Forestry job family.
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 Analysis Reading Comprehension Monitoring Active Listening Critical Thinking Speaking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Agricultural Inspector pay by experience level
Entry level$38,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$44,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$51,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$67,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$82,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,200
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Agricultural Inspector salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
8,650 workers
$60,500State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
5,370 workers
$56,000Food Manufacturing
3,510 workers
$47,500Animal Slaughtering and Processing
2,930 workers
$46,500Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
2,240 workers
$66,000Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,040 workers
$71,500Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
930 workers
$55,000Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
850 workers
$55,500Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
550 workers
$59,000Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only)
500 workers
$60,000National 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).
Similar-paying roles in Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Logging Equipment Operator$55,000
Animal Breeder$59,000
Log Graders and Scalers$49,500
Logging Workers, All Other$55,000
Careers related to Agricultural Inspector
Energy Auditor$80,500
Agricultural Technician$55,500
Food Science Technician$58,500
Aviation Inspector$91,500
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Agricultural Inspector make?
The average base salary for a Agricultural Inspector in the United States is $57,000 per year, or about $27.40 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $44,000 and $67,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Farming, Fishing, and Forestry roles?
The Farming, Fishing, and Forestry job family averages $50,500 across 13 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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