The Salaries of Food Inspectors

by Faizah Imani

Food Inspectors, also referred to as agricultural and food science technicians, are responsible for examining food quality and agricultural products. As a food inspector, you stay abreast of the latest regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture. There are a lot of contributing factors that determine exactly how much a food inspector makes, including geographical location and educational background.

Median Salary

As of May 2011, the median annual salary for a food inspector is $36,150 per year, or $17.38 hourly. The median salary is a demarcation line. Half of all the food inspectors in the United States earn more than the median wage and half earn less. The bottom 10 percent of U.S. food inspectors earn less than $22,420 annually or $10.78 per hour. The top 10 percent earned $54,020 annually or $25.97 per hour.

Regional Comparisons

As of May 2011, the highest-paying state for food inspectors is Colorado, with an average median salary of $49,140. The second-highest paying state is New Jersey, with an average median salary of $47,690. Missouri, Alabama and Illinois also rank in the top five highest-paying states. The five lowest-paying states for food inspectors are Utah, Texas, South Dakota, Mississippi, Georgia and Kentucky, with an average median salary ranging between $28,290 to $31,890. South Dakota has the lowest salary, paying only $28,290.

Contributing Factors

The higher your education, the more you earn. Generally, you need an associate degree to begin working as a food inspector. However, you can also work as a food inspector trainee, if you do not possess a college degree. The industries that employ the largest number of food service inspectors tend to pay on the lower end of the scale. For example, food inspectors at colleges and universities earn an average of $35,020 annually. Food inspectors at animal slaughtering and processing plants earn an average of $26,500 annually.

Career Outlook

In 2010, there were 21,300 food service technician jobs in the United States. The average growth rate for most occupations is 14 percent. However, for a food inspector, the growth rate from 2010 to 2020 is only expected to reach 7 percent. However, as food safety regulations increase, the demand for highly qualified food service technicians also increase.

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