Agricultural Inspector salary in California
Agricultural Inspectors in California earn a median of $53,620 a year ($25.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,100 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $49,940. California ranks 16th of 43 states for agricultural inspectors pay. There are 0.13 agricultural inspectors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for agricultural inspectors in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| 25th percentile | $41,980 | $20.18 |
| Median | $53,620 | $25.78 |
| 75th percentile | $77,550 | $37.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,100 | $44.76 |
| Average (mean) | $60,610 | $29.14 |
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 | $4,468.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,234.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,062.31 |
| Weekly | $1,031.15 |
| Hourly | $25.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Agricultural Inspector salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $93,840 | 30 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,310 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $77,550 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,860 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $63,490 | 660 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $62,440 | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $60,590 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $57,540 | 110 |
| Fresno, CA | $56,890 | 270 |
| El Centro, CA | $55,690 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $49,930 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,450 | 320 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $41,160 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for agricultural inspectors
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,580 | $17.11 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | $38,820 | $18.66 |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | $36,330 | $17.47 |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | $53,090 | $25.52 |
| Animal Breeder | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $56,280 | $27.06 |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Logging Equipment Operator | $61,940 | $29.78 |
| Log Graders and Scalers | $56,670 | $27.24 |
| Logging Workers, All Other | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| Faller | $59,590 | $28.65 |
More: Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for agricultural inspectors in California is $53,620 a year, or $25.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid agricultural inspectors make in California?
The top 10% of agricultural inspectors in California earn at least $93,100 a year. The top 25% earn $77,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for agricultural inspectors in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,150 a year, and a quarter of agricultural inspectors earn $41,980 or less.
How many agricultural inspectors work in California?
About 2,340 agricultural inspectors are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.