Nature of the Work

Agricultural inspectors are employed by Federal and State governments to ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing the health, safety, and quality of agricultural commodities, processing equipment and facilities, and fish and logging operations.

Education and Training

Most jobs require work experience in a related field, such as food processing, or some college coursework in biology, agricultural science, or a related subject.

Job Outlook

Employment change. Average employment growth is expected as Federal and State governments, the largest employers of these workers, are not expected to hire a significant number of new inspectors. However, demand for agricultural inspectors may increase significantly if pending legislation requiring greater scrutiny of the food industry by the Food and Drug Administration is passed.

Job prospects. Job prospects should be good as a large number of government inspectors are expected to retire in the coming decade.