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How to become an agricultural inspector

Farming & forestry · SOC 45-2011

$49,940US median pay, 2025
+2.3%Projected growth, 2025–35
2,500Openings per year
DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

  1. Bachelor's degree
  2. Moderate-term on-the-job training
  3. Work as an agricultural inspector

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

ProgramCodeSchools
Agricultural and Food Products ProcessingCIP 01.040121

See the 21 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become an agricultural inspector?
Typically about four years for the degree, then a few months to a year of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do agricultural inspectors make?
The US median is $49,940 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree to become an agricultural inspector?
Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train to become an agricultural inspector?
21 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

Related careers in Farming & forestry

Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals · Agricultural equipment operators · First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers · Logging equipment operators · Fishing and hunting workers · Forest and conservation workers · Animal breeders