An official website of the United States government
Inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment, and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing health, quality, and safety.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14,710 | 3.1 % | $21.28 | $44,260 | 0.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $12.78 | $15.54 | $20.58 | $25.03 | $30.69 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $26,580 | $32,320 | $42,800 | $52,060 | $63,840 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Government (OES Designation) | 5,170 | 0.24 | $19.45 | $40,450 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 4,830 | 0.24 | $22.64 | $47,100 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 710 | 0.01 | $27.15 | $56,480 |
| Support Activities for Crop Production | 550 | 0.16 | $18.15 | $37,760 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 540 | 0.11 | $18.59 | $38,660 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 90 | 0.28 | $21.61 | $44,950 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 5,170 | 0.24 | $19.45 | $40,450 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 4,830 | 0.24 | $22.64 | $47,100 |
| Support Activities for Crop Production | 550 | 0.16 | $18.15 | $37,760 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 540 | 0.11 | $18.59 | $38,660 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | (8) | (8) | $30.79 | $64,050 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 30 | 0.04 | $27.59 | $57,390 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 710 | 0.01 | $27.15 | $56,480 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | 50 | 0.01 | $25.73 | $53,530 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 80 | 0.01 | $24.98 | $51,960 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,710 | 0.17 | 1.62 | $21.66 | $45,060 |
| Virginia | 690 | 0.18 | 1.76 | $20.84 | $43,350 |
| Georgia | 660 | 0.16 | 1.48 | $19.24 | $40,020 |
| Texas | 570 | 0.05 | 0.46 | $23.09 | $48,030 |
| Kansas | 540 | 0.39 | 3.76 | $20.13 | $41,880 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 190 | 0.45 | 4.30 | $17.89 | $37,210 |
| Kansas | 540 | 0.39 | 3.76 | $20.13 | $41,880 |
| Nebraska | 310 | 0.32 | 3.04 | $21.62 | $44,960 |
| Delaware | 140 | 0.31 | 2.97 | $21.32 | $44,350 |
| Arkansas | 360 | 0.30 | 2.84 | $21.10 | $43,880 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 40 | 0.02 | 0.20 | $35.01 | $72,820 |
| Massachusetts | (8) | (8) | (8) | $32.63 | $67,880 |
| Vermont | 40 | 0.12 | 1.11 | $29.41 | $61,180 |
| New Jersey | 140 | 0.03 | 0.33 | $28.91 | $60,130 |
| Michigan | 340 | 0.08 | 0.77 | $28.25 | $58,760 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 620 | 0.15 | 1.41 | $22.11 | $45,990 |
| Fresno, CA | 330 | 0.94 | 8.97 | $22.40 | $46,590 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 200 | 0.15 | 1.39 | $17.98 | $37,390 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 140 | 0.02 | 0.21 | $32.86 | $68,350 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 130 | 0.15 | 1.39 | $19.77 | $41,120 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | 130 | 0.54 | 5.20 | $21.31 | $44,330 |
| Dothan, AL | 120 | 2.16 | 20.57 | $14.50 | $30,170 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 120 | 0.03 | 0.31 | $29.52 | $61,400 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 120 | 0.40 | 3.78 | $19.20 | $39,930 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 110 | 0.21 | 1.96 | $26.84 | $55,830 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan, AL | 120 | 2.16 | 20.57 | $14.50 | $30,170 |
| Grand Island, NE | 60 | 1.55 | 14.75 | $18.82 | $39,150 |
| Gainesville, GA | 90 | 1.12 | 10.68 | $20.97 | $43,610 |
| Topeka, KS | 110 | 0.99 | 9.41 | $15.54 | $32,320 |
| Fresno, CA | 330 | 0.94 | 8.97 | $22.40 | $46,590 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 60 | 0.92 | 8.80 | $16.45 | $34,220 |
| Yuma, AZ | 50 | 0.84 | 8.01 | $15.86 | $32,980 |
| Yakima, WA | 70 | 0.83 | 7.94 | $23.05 | $47,940 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 30 | 0.78 | 7.46 | (8) | (8) |
| Bismarck, ND | 50 | 0.69 | 6.60 | $18.33 | $38,120 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 30 | 0.05 | 0.52 | $35.92 | $74,710 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 50 | 0.04 | 0.40 | $35.00 | $72,800 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 140 | 0.02 | 0.21 | $32.86 | $68,350 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 120 | 0.03 | 0.31 | $29.52 | $61,400 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 70 | 0.04 | 0.40 | $27.88 | $57,980 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 110 | 0.08 | 0.75 | $27.55 | $57,300 |
| Nassau County-Suffolk County, NY Metropolitan Division | 40 | 0.03 | 0.31 | $26.86 | $55,860 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 110 | 0.21 | 1.96 | $26.84 | $55,830 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 60 | 0.03 | 0.31 | $26.68 | $55,490 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 90 | 0.08 | 0.73 | $25.35 | $52,720 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 0.59 | 5.63 | $21.62 | $44,970 |
| Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 0.51 | 4.89 | $21.44 | $44,600 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.71 | 6.77 | $13.76 | $28,620 |
| Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.33 | 12.68 | $18.62 | $38,720 |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.47 | 4.50 | $19.02 | $39,550 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.33 | 12.68 | $18.62 | $38,720 |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 1.30 | 12.40 | $19.78 | $41,150 |
| East Central North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 1.06 | 10.08 | $16.68 | $34,690 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 1.05 | 10.03 | $21.41 | $44,530 |
| South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.76 | 7.25 | $22.00 | $45,760 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.35 | 3.30 | $26.87 | $55,880 |
| Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.19 | 1.84 | $25.36 | $52,750 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.61 | 5.80 | $23.37 | $48,610 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.19 | 1.83 | $23.01 | $47,860 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.34 | 3.26 | $22.86 | $47,550 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017