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Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state) in Ohio

Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation lists 4 job classes for this work in the Ohio state pay plan: Meat Inspector Trainee, Meat Inspector, Food Safety Specialist 1–2.

$49,192 – $95,846
state pay plan range, a year
4
classes in the state plan
$69,280
median pay in OH, all employers
210
workers in OH (SOC 45-2011)

Sources: Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation, Ohio State Classification Plan — Pay Range Booklet and Pay Range Schedules (rates effective July 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Ohio state pay plan Sourced

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

Class and gradePublished rate
Meat Inspector Trainee
Class 21230
Grade 28
$23.65 – $28.76 a hour
$49,192 – $59,821 a year
7 steps
  • Step 1: $23.65 a hour
  • Step 2: $24.27 a hour
  • Step 3: $24.88 a hour
  • Step 4: $25.61 a hour
  • Step 5: $26.54 a hour
  • Step 6: $27.56 a hour
  • Step 7: $28.76 a hour
Meat Inspector
Class 21231
Grade 30
$26.54 – $34.53 a hour
$55,203 – $71,822 a year
7 steps
  • Step 1: $26.54 a hour
  • Step 2: $27.56 a hour
  • Step 3: $28.76 a hour
  • Step 4: $30.10 a hour
  • Step 5: $31.47 a hour
  • Step 6: $32.84 a hour
  • Step 7: $34.53 a hour
Food Safety Specialist 1
Class 21291
Grade 31
$28.76 – $38.01 a hour
$59,821 – $79,061 a year
7 steps
  • Step 1: $28.76 a hour
  • Step 2: $30.10 a hour
  • Step 3: $31.47 a hour
  • Step 4: $32.84 a hour
  • Step 5: $34.53 a hour
  • Step 6: $36.20 a hour
  • Step 7: $38.01 a hour
Food Safety Specialist 2
Class 21292
Grade 32
$31.47 – $46.08 a hour
$65,458 – $95,846 a year
9 steps
  • Step 1: $31.47 a hour
  • Step 2: $32.84 a hour
  • Step 3: $34.53 a hour
  • Step 4: $36.20 a hour
  • Step 5: $38.01 a hour
  • Step 6: $39.86 a hour
  • Step 7: $41.81 a hour
  • Step 8: $43.90 a hour
  • Step 9: $46.08 a hour

Schedule: OCSEA Pay Range Schedule (Rates Effective July 2026). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions (hourly × 2,080). Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation, Ohio State Classification Plan — Pay Range Booklet and Pay Range Schedules (rates effective July 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Ohio, all employers Sourced

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

MeasureOH
Workers210
10th percentile$51,810
Median$69,280
90th percentile$79,440
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.

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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