Agricultural and Fish Products Inspectors

(NOC 2222)

in All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Agricultural and fish products inspectors inspect agricultural and fish products to make sure they meet production, storage, and transportation standards. Inspectors may specialize in fish and fish products, fruits and vegetables, grain, meat, or seeds and plant products. They work for government departments and agencies and private sector food processing companies. Supervisors of agricultural and fish products inspectors are also included in this group.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

  • Estimate 3410 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5690 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$24.61

Minimum

$35.06

Median

$49.73

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$68,761

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Hourly Pay

$18.00

Minimum

$34.90

Median

$54.10

Maximum

Annual Pay

$13,568

Minimum

$60,422

Median

$107,009

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Agricultural and fish products inspectors inspect agricultural and fish products to make sure they meet production, storage, and transportation standards. Inspectors may specialize in fish and fish products, fruits and vegetables, grain, meat, or seeds and plant products. They work for government departments and agencies and private sector food processing companies. Supervisors of agricultural and fish products inspectors are also included in this group.

Job duties

Fish and fish products inspectors:

  • Inspect fish, fish products, fish handling and processing methods and prepare reports and make sure that regulations are followed.

Fruit and vegetables inspectors:

  • Inspect fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables at inspection centres and prepare reports on crop production and market conditions.

Grain inspectors:

  • Inspect and grade all classes of grain at terminal elevators, monitor the fumigation of infested grain, and examine storage, handling, and transportation equipment to make sure that sanitary procedures are followed.

Meat inspectors:

  • Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering and meat processing plants and inspect carcasses to make sure they are fit for human consumption.

Plant protection inspectors:

  • Certify seed crops, oversee the quarantine, treatment or destruction of plants and plant products, and the fumigation of plants and plant product imports and exports.

Sample job titles

  • agricultural products inspector
  • animal health inspector
  • crop certification inspector
  • fish and fish products inspector
  • fish inspector-grader
  • food products inspector
  • fruit and vegetables inspector
  • livestock inspector
  • meat inspector
  • poultry inspector

Skills

  • You should enjoy technical work and have an interest in science. A high degree of manual dexterity and mechanical ability may be necessary. You must be precise and analytical, and able to work alone or as part of a team. Good oral and written communication skills are important. Familiarity with computers is also required for some positions. Physical stamina may be needed for fieldwork.

Job requirements

  • High school is required.
  • Government inspectors usually require a bachelor's degree or college diploma in agriculture, biology, chemistry, food processing technology or a related discipline.
  • Inspectors (other than government) may require a bachelor's degree or college diploma in a related discipline.
  • Completion of in-house training courses is required.

Other considerations

  • Several years of experience in agricultural production or fish processing are usually required. Resource conservation and environmental concerns may help to generate job opportunities for people in these jobs. People in these jobs usually work regular hours; however, irregular hours may be required to follow through on an experiment or fieldwork. Progression to managerial positions in this field is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

170

employed in 2016

90.9%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

54.5%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
45.5%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.7

median age

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

25,875

employed in 2016

91.5%

employed full-time

7.6%

self employed

20.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
80%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
42.8

median age

Where will I likely work?

24.2%

Southern

$70,757 median annual income
21.2%

North Shore

N/A
21.2%

Annapolis Valley

$77,620 median annual income
18.2%

Cape Breton

N/A
15.2%

Halifax

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

64.5%

Public administration

22.6%

Manufacturing

6.5%

Retail trade

6.5%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

What is the age of Employment?

30.0%

35-44

24.0%

45-54

21.0%

55-64

18.0%

25-34

6.0%

65+

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

24.2%

25-34

23.5%

45-54

23.4%

35-44

16.4%

55-64

7.7%

15-24

Top levels of education

44.1%

Bachelor

$71,026 median annual income
23.5%

College Diploma

$77,873 median annual income
20.6%

High school

N/A
5.9%

Trade Certification

N/A
5.9%

Diploma Below Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

33.1%

College Diploma

$59,986 median annual income
29.8%

Bachelor

$63,965 median annual income
11.9%

High school

$45,835 median annual income
9.9%

Master

$65,105 median annual income
6.9%

Trade Certification

$57,773 median annual income

Education & training

Agriculture - General

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on agricultural research and production. They include courses in basic animal, plant, and soil science, animal husbandry and plant cultivation, soil conservation, and agricultural operations like farming, ranching, and agricultural business.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Aquaculture

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to select, culture, grow, harvest, and market domesticated fish, shellfish, and marine plants, both freshwater and saltwater. They include courses in the principles of aquatic and marine biology, health and nutrition of aquatic and marine life, design and operation of fish farms, breeding facilities, culture beds, and related enterprises, and related issues of safety, applicable regulations, logistics, and supply.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Biology/Biological Sciences

College or University Program

This includes any general program of biology at the introductory, basic level or a program in biology or the biological sciences that is undifferentiated as to title or content. These programs include courses in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Chemistry

College or University Program

These programs focus on the scientific study of the composition and behaviour of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Food Science

College or University Program

These programs apply biological, chemical, and physical principles to the study of converting raw agricultural products into processed forms suitable for direct human consumption, and the storage of such products. They include courses in applicable aspects of the agricultural sciences, human physiology and nutrition, food chemistry, agricultural products processing, food additives, food preparation and packaging, food storage and shipment, and related aspects of human health and safety including toxicology and pathology.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Veterinary/Animal Health Technician and Vterinary Assistant

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students, under the supervision of veterinarians, laboratory animal specialists, and zoological professionals, to provide patient management, care, and clinical procedures assistance as well as owner communication. They include courses in animal nursing care, animal health and nutrition, animal handling, clinical pathology, radiology, anesthesiology, dental prophylaxis, surgical assisting, clinical laboratory procedures, office administration skills, patient and owner management, and applicable standards and regulations.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
Vancouver, BC
Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Atlantic
Dartmouth, NS