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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What separates a comfortable Agricultural Inspector salary from a tight one? Usually just a zip code. The national median salary for Agricultural Inspectors in 2026 is $55,867, with entry-level positions averaging $40,224 and senior roles reaching $79,331. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $101,760, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Agriculture within the broader Agriculture industry, Agricultural Inspectors typically hold Bachelor's degree. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is field. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$61,920 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Agricultural Inspector in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $101,760 — $61,920 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,840). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The three-tier salary picture for Agricultural Inspectors in 2026: $40,224 at entry (P10), $55,867 at midpoint, and $79,331 at the senior end (P90). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The $39,107 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $24,500 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $95,040 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $40,160. That $54,880 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
A Agricultural Inspector in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $101,760 — $61,920 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,840). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $40,224 | $55,867 | $79,331 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £20,903 | £29,032 | £41,225 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$33,103 | CA$45,976 | CA$65,286 |
| Australia | 13 | A$41,359 | A$57,443 | A$81,569 |
| Sweden | 24 | 231,946 kr | 322,148 kr | 457,450 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $48,548 | $67,428 | $95,748 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $46,915 | $65,160 | $92,527 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $46,656 | $64,800 | $92,016 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $43,200 | $60,000 | $85,200 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $42,682 | $59,280 | $84,178 |
| Washington | 8 | $41,861 | $58,140 | $82,559 |
| New York | 5 | $39,399 | $54,720 | $77,703 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $39,398 | $54,720 | $77,702 |
| Florida | 22 | $39,100 | $54,305 | $77,114 |
| Colorado | 11 | $38,424 | $53,367 | $75,781 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $38,362 | $53,280 | $75,658 |
| Nevada | 5 | $38,293 | $53,184 | $75,521 |
| Arizona | 12 | $38,102 | $52,920 | $75,146 |
| Oregon | 5 | $38,016 | $52,800 | $74,976 |
| Idaho | 3 | $37,901 | $52,640 | $74,749 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $37,601 | $52,224 | $74,158 |
| Utah | 4 | $37,498 | $52,080 | $73,954 |
| Virginia | 7 | $36,881 | $51,223 | $72,737 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $36,403 | $50,560 | $71,795 |
| Alaska | 1 | $36,288 | $50,400 | $71,568 |
| Illinois | 5 | $35,873 | $49,824 | $70,750 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $34,982 | $48,587 | $68,993 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $34,560 | $48,000 | $68,160 |
| Montana | 1 | $34,560 | $48,000 | $68,160 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $34,445 | $47,840 | $67,933 |
| Texas | 40 | $34,275 | $47,604 | $67,598 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $34,215 | $47,520 | $67,479 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $34,042 | $47,280 | $67,138 |
| Georgia | 6 | $33,926 | $47,120 | $66,910 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $33,869 | $47,040 | $66,797 |
| Kansas | 4 | $33,696 | $46,800 | $66,456 |
| Michigan | 6 | $33,581 | $46,640 | $66,229 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $33,178 | $46,080 | $65,434 |
| Maryland | 1 | $33,178 | $46,080 | $65,434 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $31,968 | $44,400 | $63,048 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $31,795 | $44,160 | $62,707 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $31,363 | $43,560 | $61,855 |
| Missouri | 4 | $31,363 | $43,560 | $61,855 |
| Alabama | 5 | $31,242 | $43,392 | $61,616 |
| Indiana | 3 | $30,758 | $42,720 | $60,662 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $30,758 | $42,720 | $60,662 |
| Iowa | 2 | $30,413 | $42,240 | $59,981 |
| Ohio | 6 | $30,355 | $42,160 | $59,867 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $29,030 | $40,320 | $57,254 |
The state salary map for Agricultural Inspectors: California at $67,428, Massachusetts at $65,160, Hawaii at $64,800 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($40,320), Ohio ($42,160), Iowa ($42,240) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $27,108.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($101,760 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $48,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $101,760 | 212 | $48,000 | $62,976 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $95,040 | 198 | $48,000 | $59,167 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $88,320 | 184 | $48,000 | $55,334 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $86,880 | 181 | $48,000 | $54,512 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $85,440 | 178 | $48,000 | $53,691 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $84,960 | 177 | $48,000 | $53,417 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $84,960 | 177 | $48,000 | $53,417 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $83,040 | 173 | $48,000 | $52,321 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $83,040 | 173 | $48,000 | $52,321 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $81,120 | 169 | $48,000 | $51,226 |
The $39,107 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Agricultural Inspector career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Agriculture sector, steady, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Agricultural Inspectors is $55,867 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $40,224, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $79,331.
The highest-paying city for Agricultural Inspectors is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $101,760. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($101,760), Santa Clara ($95,040), Irvine ($88,320). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Agricultural Inspector salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $39,840. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Agricultural Inspectors (10th percentile) average $40,224 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $73,267. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Agricultural Inspectors average $79,331 nationally — $39,107 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Agricultural Inspectors can earn up to $144,499.
The top-paying states for Agricultural Inspectors are California ($67,428 median), Massachusetts ($65,160 median), Hawaii ($64,800 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Agricultural Inspector involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Agriculture sector (Agriculture), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically field.
With a national median of $55,867 and representation across 288 metro areas, Agricultural Inspector offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $39,107 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.