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Agricultural inspector: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$49,940median pay per year, or $24.01 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,020lowest 10% earn less
  2. $42,33025th percentile
  3. $49,940median
  4. $64,50075th percentile
  5. $79,580top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Agricultural inspectors earned a median of $49,940 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, a little below the 3.5% projected for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.3%[2]
Openings per year
2,500[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do agricultural inspectors make?

The median wage for agricultural inspectors was $49,940 a year, or $24.01 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $54,910 a year[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,020, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $42,330[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $64,500, and the top 10% earned more than $79,580[4]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $17.80 and the 90th was $38.26[9]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and benefit costs[11]. About 14,410 people held these wage and salary jobs[12].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $37,020
25th percentile[4] $42,330
Median[1] $49,940
Mean[8] $54,910
75th percentile[4] $64,500
90th percentile[4] $79,580

Pay by state and city

Minnesota had the highest state median at $77,150, followed by New York at $73,920 and Ohio at $69,280[13]. Wyoming had the lowest listed median, $36,670[13].

The most jobs were in California (2,340) and Georgia (1,390), followed by Texas (590)[14]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the Minneapolis area (Minneapolis-Saint Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI) had the highest median at $84,910[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area was next at $79,210[15]. The Los Angeles metro area had the most jobs, 660, with a median of $63,490[16].

Show median pay in 43 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Minnesota[13]$77,150180
New York$73,920340
Ohio$69,280210
Michigan$65,730320
Vermont$63,63060
Louisiana$63,130150
Washington$62,880450
Illinois$62,000470
Hawaii$60,65090
Maryland$58,160150
North Dakota$57,59080
Pennsylvania$55,650520
Nebraska$55,090370
Utah$53,930120
Wisconsin$53,640220
California$53,6202,340
Oklahoma$53,060170
Oregon$53,060110
New Mexico$52,450170
Kansas$51,630190
Delaware$51,59090
Colorado$50,430280
South Carolina$49,94090
Texas$49,940590
Iowa$49,600560
Idaho$48,650280
Indiana$48,560480
Tennessee$47,840410
North Carolina$47,760290
Virginia$47,380380
Kentucky$46,640270
Massachusetts$46,51070
Missouri$46,220450
Arizona$45,700160
Florida$43,990520
Arkansas$42,060410
Maine$41,760110
New Jersey$41,52060
Georgia$41,4601,390
Mississippi$39,960190
Alabama$39,300290
Nevada$39,27050
Wyoming$36,670150

How to become an agricultural inspector

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[7].

ONET gives a mixed picture. In an ONET survey of 31 workers, 56% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 12% said some college courses, 12% said an associate's degree and 10% said a bachelor's degree[17]. This is a small survey, so treat it as a rough signal.

O*NET places the job in a zone where some roles need little experience and others need several months to a year[18].

What agricultural inspectors do

O*NET describes the work as inspecting farm products, processing equipment and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to make sure they follow health, quality and safety rules[19]. Typical tasks include:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 17,800 to 18,200 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include the self-employed, so they differ from the wage and salary count above.

About 2,500 openings are projected each year[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 5.9% of workers leave the labor force and 7.6% move to a different occupation[21].

Is it a good fit?

Median pay is close to the all-occupations median, with a moderate spread[1][5][4]. BLS lists a bachelor's degree for entry, while a small O*NET survey of 31 workers found 56% reporting a high school diploma[7][17]. Growth is slightly below the all-occupations rate, and openings continue each year[2][3][6].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[22].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an agricultural inspector make an hour?
The median was $24.01 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $17.80 and the 90th was $38.26[9].
What degree do you need to be an agricultural inspector?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[7]. In an O*NET survey of 31 workers, 56% said a high school diploma is required[17].
Is agricultural inspector in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 2,500 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for agricultural inspectors?
Minnesota had the highest median, $77,150[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Agricultural Inspectors in the US was $49,940 per year and $24.01 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Agricultural Inspectors is projected to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 17,800 to 18,200 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Agricultural Inspectors: 10th percentile $37,020, 25th percentile $42,330, 75th percentile $64,500, 90th percentile $79,580. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,500 openings for Agricultural Inspectors are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Agricultural Inspectors: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Agricultural Inspectors was $54,910 per year and $26.40 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Agricultural Inspectors: 10th percentile $17.80, 25th percentile $20.35, 75th percentile $31.01, 90th percentile $38.26. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 14,410 people were employed as Agricultural Inspectors in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Agricultural Inspectors in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Agricultural Inspectors jobs: California 2,340; Georgia 1,390; Texas 590; Iowa 560; Florida 520. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Agricultural Inspectors (areas with at least 100 jobs): Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $84,910; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $79,210; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $77,550; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $64,790; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $63,490; Yakima, WA $62,880; Visalia, CA $57,540; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $56,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Agricultural Inspectors jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 660 (median $63,490); Gainesville, GA 350 (median $41,460); Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 320 (median $44,450); Fresno, CA 270 (median $56,890); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 230 (median $46,720); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 220 (median $64,790). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 45-2011.00 survey of workers (31 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 56%, Some College Courses 12%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 12%, Bachelor's Degree 10%, Less than a High School Diploma 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 45-2011.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of Agricultural Inspectors. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for Agricultural Inspectors. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Agricultural Inspectors: 5.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  22. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.