Agricultural Inspector salary in the U.S.
Agricultural Inspectors in the U.S. earn a median of $49,940 a year ($24.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,580 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $54,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for agricultural inspectors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| 25th percentile | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| Median | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| 75th percentile | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,580 | $38.26 |
| Average (mean) | $54,910 | $26.40 |
Half of agricultural inspectors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,161.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,080.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,920.77 |
| Weekly | $960.38 |
| Hourly | $24.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Agricultural Inspector salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $77,150 | 180 |
| New York | $73,920 | 340 |
| Ohio | $69,280 | 210 |
| Michigan | $65,730 | 320 |
| Vermont | $63,630 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $63,130 | 150 |
| Washington | $62,880 | 450 |
| Illinois | $62,000 | 470 |
| Hawaii | $60,650 | 90 |
| Maryland | $58,160 | 150 |
| North Dakota | $57,590 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,650 | 520 |
| Nebraska | $55,090 | 370 |
| Utah | $53,930 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $53,640 | 220 |
| California | $53,620 | 2,340 |
| Oklahoma | $53,060 | 170 |
| Oregon | $53,060 | 110 |
| New Mexico | $52,450 | 170 |
| Kansas | $51,630 | 190 |
| Delaware | $51,590 | 90 |
| Colorado | $50,430 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $49,940 | 90 |
| Texas | $49,940 | 590 |
| Iowa | $49,600 | 560 |
| Idaho | $48,650 | 280 |
| Indiana | $48,560 | 480 |
| Tennessee | $47,840 | 410 |
| North Carolina | $47,760 | 290 |
| Virginia | $47,380 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $46,640 | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $46,510 | 70 |
| Missouri | $46,220 | 450 |
| Arizona | $45,700 | 160 |
| Florida | $43,990 | 520 |
| Arkansas | $42,060 | 410 |
| Maine | $41,760 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $41,520 | 60 |
| Georgia | $41,460 | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $39,960 | 190 |
| Alabama | $39,300 | 290 |
| Nevada | $39,270 | 50 |
| Wyoming | $36,670 | 150 |
Best-paying metro areas for agricultural inspectors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $93,840 | 30 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $84,910 | 130 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $83,120 | 50 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $82,640 | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $82,200 | 60 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $79,210 | 170 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,310 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $77,550 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,860 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $70,140 | 40 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $69,710 | 30 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $67,200 | 80 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $65,520 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $64,960 | 80 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $64,790 | 220 |
Metro areas with the most agricultural inspectors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 660 | $63,490 |
| Gainesville, GA | 350 | $41,460 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 320 | $44,450 |
| Fresno, CA | 270 | $56,890 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 230 | $46,720 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 220 | $64,790 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 220 | $49,930 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 180 | $55,650 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 170 | $79,210 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 130 | $84,910 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 120 | $40,530 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 120 | $53,060 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 110 | $56,960 |
| Dothan, AL | 110 | $31,450 |
| Lincoln, NE | 110 | $47,400 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| Animal Breeder | $51,130 | $24.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| Logging Equipment Operator | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Faller | $52,100 | $25.05 |
| Log Graders and Scalers | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| Logging Workers, All Other | $50,840 | $24.44 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 45-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a agricultural inspector make in the U.S.?
The median salary for agricultural inspectors in the U.S. is $49,940 a year, or $24.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid agricultural inspectors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of agricultural inspectors in the U.S. earn at least $79,580 a year. The top 25% earn $64,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for agricultural inspectors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,020 a year, and a quarter of agricultural inspectors earn $42,330 or less.
How many agricultural inspectors work in the U.S.?
About 14,410 agricultural inspectors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.