Job title · SOC 45-2011

Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state)

Also known as: usda food inspector, food inspector

Overview

Sourced

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

O*NET definition of Agricultural Inspectors (SOC 45-2011) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.

8,730

in government (SOC 45-2011)

61%

of this occupation works for government

$55,490

median pay in government

Federal · State

levels of government

Occupation figures cover every job classified under SOC 45-2011, including Agricultural Inspector.

Titles employers use

Agricultural Commodities Grader (ACG)Apiary InspectorBrand InspectorGrain InspectorAgricultural Products AgentCSI (Consumer Safety Inspector)Food InspectorFood Safety InspectorFSIS Inspector (Food Safety and Inspection Service Inspector)Shipping Point Inspector

How people usually get in Editorial

USAJOBS assessment. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobs Wiki (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Requirements

Sourced

Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 45-2011)

Education needed to enter: Bachelor's degree
Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Education workers say the job requires

Less than a High School Diploma

High School Diploma or the equivalent

56%

Some College Courses

12%

Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree

12%

Bachelor's Degree

10%

First Professional Degree

Share of surveyed workers in Agricultural Inspectors (SOC 45-2011) naming each level as required to be hired, 31 respondents, O*NET survey July 2013. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Academy and training

Sourced

Training to become competent (BLS)

SOC 45-2011: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Preparation level (O*NET)

Job zone: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Federal grade and step: federal grade × step (GS/FWS/agency bands: FAA ATC, TSA SV, VA nurse, LEO special rates). Typical structure for a federal general schedule; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

GS/GL-5/7/9 entry (Pathways / recent grad; some law-enforcement jobs start higher, e.g. FBI special agents at GL-10)
Career-ladder promotions to full-performance level (GS-9/11/12/13)
GS-14/15 (competitive)
Senior Executive Service
within-grade steps 1–10 (steps 2–4 yearly, 5–7 every 2 yrs, 8–10 every 3 yrs)
special rates: law-enforcement special base rates (GS-3–10); LEAP 25% premium for criminal investigators only

Source: GovJobs Wiki (editorial).

Pay

Sourced

Federal

$63,270

State

$50,390

Local

$69,820

All government

$55,490

Private sector

$45,700

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer type	Workers	10th pct.	25th	Median	75th	90th
Federal	2,240	$49,940	$53,290	$63,270	$73,320	$81,330
State	5,450	$37,020	$42,330	$50,390	$63,150	$78,460
Local	1,040	$41,530	$48,660	$69,820	$82,040	$94,810
All government	8,730	$39,270	$44,660	$55,490	$69,240	$82,380
Private sector	5,680	$35,740	$39,440	$45,700	$54,580	$68,670

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

State government pay plans

Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state) in 14 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.

State	Job classes in the state plan	Annual range
California	Meat Food Inspector 1 class · effective September 14, 2026 · California Department of Human Resources (CalHR)	$48,156 – $68,700
Delaware	Meat Inspector I–II 2 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Delaware Department of Human Resources, Classification and Compensation	$37,618 – $67,987
Georgia	Meat Inspector 1–3, Meat Inspector 1 Non Exempt, Meat Inspector 2 Non Exempt, Meat Inspector 3 Non Exempt 6 classes · effective July 10, 2024 · Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation	$33,042 – $61,832
Hawaii	Food Safety Specialist I–VI 6 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD)	$52,416 – $114,912
Illinois	Meat & Poultry Inspector Trainee, Meat & Poultry Inspector 2 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Illinois Department of Central Management Services	$52,476 – $94,044
Indiana	Meat Inspector 5–4 2 classes · Indiana State Personnel Department	$39,000 – $60,112
Iowa	Meat Inspector, Dairy Products Inspector 2 classes · effective June 19, 2026 · Iowa Department of Administrative Services	$43,742 – $67,454
Massachusetts	Food And Drug Inspector I–III 4 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD)	$66,292 – $114,649
New Mexico	Associate Meat & Poultry Inspector, Meat & Poultry Inspector 2 classes · effective July 4, 2026 · New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification	$47,050 – $85,396
New York	Food Inspector 1–3 3 classes · effective April 1, 2026 · New York State Department of Civil Service	$69,964 – $137,590
Ohio	Meat Inspector Trainee, Meat Inspector, Food Safety Specialist 1–2 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation	$49,192 – $95,846
Pennsylvania	Food Inspector 1, Agriculture, Food Inspector 2, Agriculture 2 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration	$53,008 – $98,144
Tennessee	Meat Inspector 1–2 2 classes · effective September 1, 2026 · Tennessee Department of Human Resources	$38,748 – $65,208
Vermont	Food Safety Specialist I–II 2 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Vermont Department of Human Resources	$55,120 – $91,104

Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Sources: 14 official state pay plans, linked in each row.

Schedule

Sourced

Work schedule

Regular

72%

Irregular

24%

Seasonal

Typical work week

Less than 40 hours

22%

40 hours

38%

More than 40 hours

40%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, July 2013). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Day-to-day work

Sourced

Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.4.5
Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.4.5
Inspect the cleanliness and practices of establishment employees.4.4
Verify that transportation and handling procedures meet regulatory requirements.4.4
Write reports of findings and recommendations and advise farmers, growers, or processors of corrective action to be taken.4.2
Collect samples from animals, plants, or products and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, or other testing.4.1
Examine, weigh, and measure commodities, such as poultry, eggs, meat, or seafood to certify qualities, grades, and weights.4.0
Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems.3.9

The 8 most important of 8 core tasks for Agricultural Inspectors, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2026.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived

Exams and free practice tests

Sourced

Free practice tests

Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS)
Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS)
Practice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep

Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Agricultural Inspectors (SOC 45-2011) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

State	Workers	10th pct.	Median	90th pct.
Minnesota	180	$53,290	$77,150	$97,860
New York	340	$44,030	$73,920	$95,570
Ohio	210	$51,810	$69,280	$79,440
Michigan	320	$49,460	$65,730	$92,600
Vermont	60	$54,660	$63,630	$87,070
Louisiana	150	$49,940	$63,130	$83,780
Washington	450	$46,740	$62,880	$80,640
Illinois	470	$44,130	$62,000	$93,590
Hawaii	90	$41,970	$60,650	$83,050
Maryland	150	$40,200	$58,160	$78,860
North Dakota	80	$39,630	$57,590	$73,600
Pennsylvania	520	$45,620	$55,650	$80,480
Nebraska	370	$40,880	$55,090	$64,940
Utah	120	$41,290	$53,930	$67,200
Wisconsin	220	$42,900	$53,640	$68,160
California	2,340	$38,150	$53,620	$93,100
Oklahoma	170	$38,910	$53,060	$70,820
Oregon	110	$43,450	$53,060	$68,040
New Mexico	170	$36,820	$52,450	$66,870
Kansas	190	$37,600	$51,630	$75,360
Delaware	90	$43,080	$51,590	$82,930
Colorado	280	$45,250	$50,430	$73,340
South Carolina	90	$37,110	$49,940	$67,200
Texas	590	$40,330	$49,940	$83,150
Iowa	560	$45,590	$49,600	$78,890
Idaho	280	$34,990	$48,650	$64,770
Indiana	480	$34,110	$48,560	$74,740
Tennessee	410	$40,580	$47,840	$61,110
North Carolina	290	$34,250	$47,760	$68,700
Virginia	380	$41,640	$47,380	$64,360
Kentucky	270	$36,480	$46,640	$67,200
Massachusetts	70	$38,890	$46,510	$89,960
Missouri	450	$37,960	$46,220	$61,110
Arizona	160	$37,440	$45,700	$55,780
Florida	520	$35,360	$43,990	$63,270
Arkansas	410	$37,490	$42,060	$48,810
Maine	110	$37,610	$41,760	$66,480
New Jersey	60	$35,630	$41,520	$79,210
Georgia	1,390	$31,050	$41,460	$58,160
Mississippi	190	$29,870	$39,960	$45,600
Alabama	290	$31,450	$39,300	$67,340
Nevada	50	$39,270	$39,270	$79,750
Wyoming	150	$31,190	$36,670	$60,910

43 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

03 Hiring process
The steps in order and how long they take: application, written and physical tests, oral board, background check, polygraph, psychological and medical exams, eligibility list
Not yet collected
05 Probation
Probation length and what ends it
Not yet collected
09 Benefits and pension
Pension plan and formula, retirement age and years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b) and PSLF eligibility
Not yet collected
10 Union contracts
Bargaining unit, union and the current contract, with its source and effective dates
Not yet collected
11 Transfers and lateral entry
Lateral entry policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonuses and moves between agencies
Not yet collected
15 Employer directory
Every public employer that hires this job, with its own pay and rules
Not yet collected

At a glance

Job familyInspection, Regulation & Revenue

LevelFederal, State

Pay structureFederal grade and step

Occupation code45-2011 Agricultural Inspectors

PreparationVery Little to Some Preparation Needed

Sources and verification

California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) — California State Civil Service Pay Scales — Section 17 Schematic Listing (with Section 16 Schematic Arrangement of Classes)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (California state government publication, CalHR); facts republished with a link to the source

Delaware Department of Human Resources, Classification and Compensation — Delaware classification plan (class report) and FY2027 pay grade tables

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (State of Delaware government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation — Georgia State Salary Plans (SWD and LAW) with Job Profiles — September 2026

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Georgia state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) — Hawaii Compensation Plans and Bargaining Unit Salary Schedules

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (State of Hawaiʻi government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Illinois Department of Central Management Services — Illinois CMS Alphabetic Index of Position Titles (FY 2027, effective July 1, 2026, corrected edition)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Illinois state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Iowa Department of Administrative Services — Iowa FY 2027 Classification Plan and Pay Plans

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Iowa state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD) — Massachusetts Executive Branch Bargaining Unit Job Codes and Salary Charts

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Commonwealth of Massachusetts government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification — New Mexico Classified Service — FY27 Salary Schedule (effective 7/4/2026) and Classification and Pay Listing (effective 7/30/2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (New Mexico state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

New York State Department of Civil Service — New York State Title and Salary Plan (Title and Salary Listing) and negotiating-unit salary schedules

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Title listing: OPEN-NY Terms of Use (data.ny.gov) — free use for any lawful purpose, no attribution or share-alike required; salary schedules and title file on cs.ny.gov: public record (New York State government publications); facts republished with a link to the source

U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA) — O*NET 31.0 Database

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · CC BY 4.0

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. GovJobsWiki has modified some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation — Ohio State Classification Plan — Pay Range Booklet and Pay Range Schedules (rates effective July 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Ohio state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration — Pennsylvania Commonwealth Classification and Pay Plan (job classes and pay schedules)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Indiana State Personnel Department — State of Indiana Job Code Listing (August 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Indiana state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Tennessee Department of Human Resources — Tennessee DOHR Alpha Comp Plan (September 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Tennessee state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Vermont Department of Human Resources — Vermont Job Specifications and FY 2027 Classified, Corrections and State Police Pay Plans (Appendix II, July 12, 2026 – January 9, 2027)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Vermont state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

GovJobs Wiki — editorial structure and wording

GovJobsWiki editorial · not a sourced fact · GovJobsWiki editorial

Open Exam Prep — Open Exam Prep free practice tests

Non-government site · data captured October 1, 2026 · Links only; no questions or content copied

Page data last changed October 1, 2026. How we verify · Report an error

Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state)

Overview

Titles employers use

Requirements

Education workers say the job requires

Academy and training

Promotion ladder

Pay

State government pay plans

Schedule

Day-to-day work

Related jobs

Exams and free practice tests

Free practice tests

By state

Not yet collected