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Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state) in Hawaii

State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) lists 6 job classes for this work in the Hawaii state pay plan: Food Safety Specialist I–VI.

$52,416 – $114,912
state pay plan range, a year
6
classes in the state plan
$60,650
median pay in HI, all employers
90
workers in HI (SOC 45-2011)

Sources: State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD), Hawaii Compensation Plans and Bargaining Unit Salary Schedules; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Hawaii state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Hawaii sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Food Safety Specialist I
Class 8.371
Grade SR16
$52,416 – $74,652 a year
10 steps
  • Step D: $52,416 a year
  • Step E: $54,528 a year
  • Step F: $56,700 a year
  • Step G: $58,944 a year
  • Step H: $61,284 a year
  • Step I: $63,768 a year
  • Step J: $66,324 a year
  • Step K: $69,036 a year
  • Step L: $71,784 a year
  • Step M: $74,652 a year
Food Safety Specialist II
Class 8.372
Grade SR18
$56,700 – $80,736 a year
10 steps
  • Step D: $56,700 a year
  • Step E: $58,944 a year
  • Step F: $61,284 a year
  • Step G: $63,768 a year
  • Step H: $66,324 a year
  • Step I: $69,036 a year
  • Step J: $71,784 a year
  • Step K: $74,652 a year
  • Step L: $77,616 a year
  • Step M: $80,736 a year
Food Safety Specialist III
Class 8.373
Grade SR20
$61,284 – $87,336 a year
10 steps
  • Step D: $61,284 a year
  • Step E: $63,768 a year
  • Step F: $66,324 a year
  • Step G: $69,036 a year
  • Step H: $71,784 a year
  • Step I: $74,652 a year
  • Step J: $77,616 a year
  • Step K: $80,736 a year
  • Step L: $83,976 a year
  • Step M: $87,336 a year
Food Safety Specialist IV
Class 8.374
Grade SR22
$66,324 – $94,440 a year
10 steps
  • Step D: $66,324 a year
  • Step E: $69,036 a year
  • Step F: $71,784 a year
  • Step G: $74,652 a year
  • Step H: $77,616 a year
  • Step I: $80,736 a year
  • Step J: $83,976 a year
  • Step K: $87,336 a year
  • Step L: $90,816 a year
  • Step M: $94,440 a year
Food Safety Specialist V
Class 8.375
Grade SR24
$74,652 – $106,260 a year
10 steps
  • Step D: $74,652 a year
  • Step E: $77,616 a year
  • Step F: $80,736 a year
  • Step G: $83,976 a year
  • Step H: $87,336 a year
  • Step I: $90,816 a year
  • Step J: $94,440 a year
  • Step K: $98,244 a year
  • Step L: $102,204 a year
  • Step M: $106,260 a year
Food Safety Specialist VI
Class 8.376
Grade SR26
$80,736 – $114,912 a year
10 steps
  • Step D: $80,736 a year
  • Step E: $83,976 a year
  • Step F: $87,336 a year
  • Step G: $90,816 a year
  • Step H: $94,440 a year
  • Step I: $98,244 a year
  • Step J: $102,204 a year
  • Step K: $106,260 a year
  • Step L: $110,508 a year
  • Step M: $114,912 a year

Schedule: BU 13 Professional and Scientific (effective 07/01/2026). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD), Hawaii Compensation Plans and Bargaining Unit Salary Schedules. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Hawaii, all employers Sourced

Agricultural Inspectors (SOC 45-2011) in Hawaii, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

MeasureHI
Workers90
10th percentile$41,970
Median$60,650
90th percentile$83,050
National median, government employers$55,490

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

Free practice tests for Hawaii

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.

More about this job

Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state) page.

Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state) in other states

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