Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Agricultural inspectors work in a specialized role with a focused but meaningful employment base of about 15,000 positions nationwide. The field combines scientific knowledge, careful observation, and regulatory awareness, supported by skills such as science, mathematics, writing and reading, and critical and analytical thinking. The national median annual salary of $50,990 places this career in a solid earning range, with higher pay available in certain states and metro areas. Projected national employment growth of 1.5% and about 2,000 annual openings suggest a steady flow of opportunities over time. Success in this career draws on strengths in being detail oriented, solving problems and making decisions, and maintaining adaptability and physical strength and stamina. For students and career changers who are comfortable working with detailed information, regulations, and customers, agricultural inspection offers a structured path with clear educational expectations and multiple geographic options, along with related alternative paths in inspections and other technical occupations listed as similar careers.
The national median annual salary for agricultural inspectors is $50,990, with pay varying across states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, New York reports a notably higher median salary of $73,920, followed by Washington at $62,880 and California at $53,620. Massachusetts and Colorado fall closer to the national median, at $46,510 and $50,430 respectively. At the metro level, salary differences become even clearer. The New York–Newark–Jersey City metro stands out with a median of $79,210, while San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont offers $70,860 and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim provides $63,490. Washington–Arlington–Alexandria and Boston–Cambridge–Newton show mid-range metro salaries of $63,970 and $47,770. These figures indicate that geographic choice can have a substantial impact on earning potential, especially for those considering relocation to higher-paying states or metros.
Agricultural inspectors have a national employment base of about 15,000 workers, with projected employment growth of 1.5%. This projected increase, combined with an estimated 2,000 annual openings, points to a consistent level of opportunity for new entrants and experienced professionals. The annual openings likely reflect a combination of new positions and turnover in the existing workforce, offering paths for both first-time job seekers and career changers. The uniform growth rate of 1.5% also appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, suggesting a similar directional trend in those locations. While the overall size of the occupation is relatively modest compared with very large fields, the steady growth projection and ongoing openings mean that individuals who meet the educational expectations and skill profile can find realistic entry points into the career over time, particularly if they are flexible about location within the areas identified as having stronger opportunity scores.
Location choices can significantly shape the experience of agricultural inspectors, with several states and metro areas standing out by opportunity score. Among states, California leads with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $53,620, and employment of 2,340, indicating a relatively large concentration of jobs. Massachusetts and New York have similar high opportunity scores (65.87 and 65.78), but with very different employment levels: 70 in Massachusetts versus 340 in New York, and a noticeably higher median salary in New York at $73,920. Colorado and Washington also rank well, with mid-range opportunity scores and median salaries around $50,430 and $62,880. At the metro level, the New York–Newark–Jersey City area stands out with the highest opportunity score (77.27) and a median salary of $79,210. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, Boston–Cambridge–Newton, and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim provide additional clusters of jobs and competitive pay, giving candidates several distinct regions to target.
Agricultural inspectors typically need a bachelor’s degree, giving this career a clear and defined educational starting point. This level of education supports the use of core skills such as science, mathematics, and writing and reading, which are listed among the top skills for the role. Critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, also play a central part in the work, aligning well with the type of reasoning and analysis often developed in bachelor’s-level programs. Beyond academic knowledge, the role draws on personal and physical capabilities, including being detail oriented, adaptable, and maintaining physical strength and stamina. Customer service and fine motor skills are also important, reflecting both interaction with others and precise hands-on tasks. Together, this mix suggests that successful candidates combine formal education with strong cognitive, interpersonal, and physical skills. Individuals who build this overall skill set are better positioned not only for agricultural inspection but also for related paths in the listed similar occupations.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
