Agricultural Inspector Salary
Agricultural Inspectors earn a median $49,940 a year nationally. Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
U.S. median
$49,940
$24.01 per hour
Range
$37,020 – $79,580
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
14,410
across the U.S.
▼2.1%
Pay trend: The median for agricultural inspectors in the U.S. fell from $50,990 (May 2024) to $49,940 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 4.5%.
What agricultural inspectors do
Inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment, and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing health, quality, and safety.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.3% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 2,500
Employment of agricultural inspectors is projected to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Agricultural Inspector take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$42,307
per year · effective tax rate 15.3%
$3,526Monthly
$1,763Twice a month
$1,627Every 2 weeks
$20.34Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,813
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,096
- Medicare (1.45%)$724
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,307
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,020 | $17.80 | $31,926 |
| 25th percentile | $42,330 | $20.35 | $36,192 |
| Median (50th) | $49,940 | $24.01 | $42,307 |
| 75th percentile | $64,500 | $31.01 | $54,006 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,580 | $38.26 | $64,815 |
Agricultural Inspector salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $77,150 | +12.9% | $59,382 | $53,290 – $97,860 | 180 |
| New York | $73,920 | +3.1% | $57,438 | $44,030 – $95,570 | 340 |
| Ohio | $69,280 | +5.4% | $56,446 | $51,810 – $79,440 | 210 |
| Michigan | $65,730 | −9.1% | $52,451 | $49,460 – $92,600 | 320 |
| Vermont | $63,630 | +4.2% | $51,567 | $54,660 – $87,070 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $63,130 | +4.9% | $51,397 | $49,940 – $83,780 | 150 |
| Washington | $62,880 | +0.5% | $52,704 | $46,740 – $80,640 | 450 |
| Illinois | $62,000 | +13.3% | $49,073 | $44,130 – $93,590 | 470 |
| Hawaii | $60,650 | −0.4% | $47,833 | $41,970 – $83,050 | 90 |
| Maryland | $58,160 | +1.7% | $46,513 | $40,200 – $78,860 | 150 |
| North Dakota | $57,590 | +3.1% | $48,454 | $39,630 – $73,600 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,650 | +7.2% | $45,186 | $45,620 – $80,480 | 520 |
| Nebraska | $55,090 | +14.4% | $44,818 | $40,880 – $64,940 | 370 |
| Utah | $53,930 | +5.1% | $44,052 | $41,290 – $67,200 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $53,640 | +2.0% | $43,701 | $42,900 – $68,160 | 220 |
| California | $53,620 | +4.1% | $43,300 | $38,150 – $93,100 | 2,340 |
| Oklahoma | $53,060 | +6.2% | $42,972 | $38,910 – $70,820 | 170 |
| Oregon | $53,060 | −0.1% | $41,001 | $43,450 – $68,040 | 110 |
| New Mexico | $52,450 | −0.0% | $43,024 | $36,820 – $66,870 | 170 |
| Kansas | $51,630 | +1.6% | $41,583 | $37,600 – $75,360 | 190 |
| Delaware | $51,590 | −20.3% | $41,446 | $43,080 – $82,930 | 90 |
| Colorado | $50,430 | −10.4% | $41,190 | $45,250 – $73,340 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $49,940 | +1.9% | $40,467 | $37,110 – $67,200 | 90 |
| Texas | $49,940 | −3.8% | $42,307 | $40,330 – $83,150 | 590 |
| Iowa | $49,600 | −8.0% | $40,801 | $45,590 – $78,890 | 560 |
| Idaho | $48,650 | −0.7% | $39,800 | $34,990 – $64,770 | 280 |
| Indiana | $48,560 | +0.3% | $39,795 | $34,110 – $74,740 | 480 |
| Tennessee | $47,840 | −3.3% | $40,619 | $40,580 – $61,110 | 410 |
| North Carolina | $47,760 | +4.6% | $39,158 | $34,250 – $68,700 | 290 |
| Virginia | $47,380 | −10.5% | $38,340 | $41,640 – $64,360 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $46,640 | −4.8% | $38,140 | $36,480 – $67,200 | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $46,510 | +0.1% | $37,445 | $38,890 – $89,960 | 70 |
| Missouri | $46,220 | −5.7% | $38,083 | $37,960 – $61,110 | 450 |
| Arizona | $45,700 | +3.6% | $37,966 | $37,440 – $55,780 | 160 |
| Florida | $43,990 | +10.6% | $37,526 | $35,360 – $63,270 | 520 |
| Arkansas | $42,060 | +0.0% | $34,548 | $37,490 – $48,810 | 410 |
| Maine | $41,760 | −15.5% | $34,097 | $37,610 – $66,480 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $41,520 | −30.2% | $34,795 | $35,630 – $79,210 | 60 |
| Georgia | $41,460 | −4.1% | $33,964 | $31,050 – $58,160 | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $39,960 | −3.9% | $33,421 | $29,870 – $45,600 | 190 |
| Alabama | $39,300 | −0.7% | $32,058 | $31,450 – $67,340 | 290 |
| Nevada | $39,270 | — | $33,733 | $39,270 – $79,750 | 50 |
| Wyoming | $36,670 | +0.0% | $31,644 | $31,190 – $60,910 | 150 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Breeder | $51,130 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.0% |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | $41,730 | No formal educational credential | +8.6% |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | $39,850 | No formal educational credential | +3.8% |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $36,670 | No formal educational credential | -3.2% |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | $35,730 | No formal educational credential | -3.4% |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 | No formal educational credential | -2.4% |
| Logging Equipment Operator | $49,740 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.8% |
| Logging Workers, All Other | $50,840 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.6% |
| Faller | $52,100 | High school diploma or equivalent | -9.9% |
| Log Grader and Scaler | $46,330 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a agricultural inspector make?
The national median salary for agricultural inspectors is $49,940 a year ($24.01 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,020 and the top 10% earn over $79,580. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays agricultural inspectors the most?
Minnesota has the highest median pay at $77,150.
How many agricultural inspectors are there in the U.S.?
About 14,410 people work as agricultural inspectors nationwide.