Farming, Fishing & Forestry
Agricultural Inspectors
Also called: Agricultural Commodities Grader (ACG), Agricultural Products Agent, Apiary Inspector, Brand Inspector
US median pay
$49,940
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+2.3%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
2,500
17,800 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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 they do day to day
- Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.
- Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.
- Inspect the cleanliness and practices of establishment employees.
- Verify that transportation and handling procedures meet regulatory requirements.
- Write reports of findings and recommendations and advise farmers, growers, or processors of corrective action to be taken.
- Collect samples from animals, plants, or products and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, or other testing.
- Examine, weigh, and measure commodities, such as poultry, eggs, meat, or seafood to certify qualities, grades, and weights.
- Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems.
- Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat.
- Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering or meat processing plants.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Quality Control Analysis4.1/5
- Operations Monitoring3.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.2/5
- Systems Evaluation3.1/5
- Systems Analysis3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Instructing3.0/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service3.5/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
- Law and Government3.3/5
- Administrative3.3/5
- Public Safety and Security3.2/5
- Mathematics3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma56%
- Some college12%
- Associate's degree12%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.