Agricultural Workers

How to become an Agricultural Inspector

Official title: Agricultural Inspectors

Also called: Agricultural Commodities Grader (ACG), Agricultural Products Agent, Apiary Inspector, Brand Inspector, CSI (Consumer Safety Inspector), Food Inspector, Food Safety Inspector, FSIS Inspector (Food Safety and Inspection Service Inspector), Grain Inspector, Shipping Point Inspector

Inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment, and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing health, quality, and safety.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Agricultural Commodity Grader.
Licence: A licence is required in 5 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $49,940 a year The middle half earn $42,330 to $64,500.
About 17,800 people work in this job now, and about 18,200 are projected by 2035. (+2.3%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Agricultural Inspector?

Ways in include: Agricultural Commodity Grader.

How much does an Agricultural Inspector earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $49,940 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $42,330 to $64,500.

Is an Agricultural Inspector a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2035, from about 17,800 to about 18,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Agricultural Inspector?

Not always. 41% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Agricultural Commodity Grader.

Will AI change the work of an Agricultural Inspector?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.