Agricultural inspectors ensure that a business complies with necessary laws and regulations regarding quality and safety of processes and products. Working for federal and state governments, they inspect plants and facilities by making a lot of visits. They also protect public health by taking samples of animals to make sure they are free of diseases, reviewing medical treatments and feeding practices, and checking the levels of chemicals in crops and vegetables.
There are three main types of agricultural inspectors: plant and quality control technician, meat inspector, and animal health technician. The plant and quality control technician work for the Directorate: Plant and Quality Control of the Department of Agriculture and their job involves plant and seed control, quality control, plant health services, and export and import control. The meat inspector ensures the health of animals and the quality of meat and the process of slaughter. The animal health technician prevents and controls animal diseases.
To be an agricultural inspector, one must be good in communication both oral and written, quality control analysis, critical thinking, decision making, monitoring and assessment, and problem solving. In terms of education, an aspiring agricultural inspector must have taken a college course related to the field such as agricultural science or biology. While there are positions that don’t require a college degree, relevant work experience is definitely sought for.
An agricultural inspector earns an average income of $14.92 per hour. Aside from basic pay, most inspectors also receive benefits such as vacation and sick days as well as health and dental insurance.