Agricultural inspector

Agricultural inspectors ensure that farming practices comply with regulations and standards to promote food safety and environmental sustainability. They play a crucial role in monitoring agricultural operations and advising farmers on best practices.


Typical Salary

£25,000 – £40,000

per year

Working Hours

38–40

hours per week

Career Area

Inspectors of standards and regulations

View related courses

Day-to-day tasks

Daily tasks of an agricultural inspector typically involve:

  • Conducting inspections of farms and agricultural facilities
  • Collecting samples for laboratory analysis
  • Reporting findings and recommending improvements
  • Educating farmers on compliance and best practices
  • Monitoring environmental impacts of farming
  • Collaborating with government agencies
  • Keeping up-to-date with agricultural regulations

Skills needed

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • the ability to analyse quality or performance
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

How to get into this role

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • applying directly

Career progression

With experience, you could become a manager or work as a consultant in occupational health.

You could also specialise in areas like public health or conservation. Salaries for specialist work can sometimes be higher.