Best states for a food inspector

Q: What is the best state for food inspectors?

The best state to be a food inspector is Alaska based on food inspector salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for food inspectors?

The highest paying state for food inspectors is Oregon based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for food inspectors?

The worst state for food inspectors is Oregon, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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It seems like food inspectors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for food inspectors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for food inspector jobs.

Alaska is the best state for jobs for food inspectors, and Oregon is the worst. The most common pay in Alaska is $48,054, while the median pay in Oregon is $26,867.We found that the West is best for food inspectors, and the Northeast is the worst. Harrisburg, PA is the best city in the country for food inspector jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.

10 best states for food inspectors in 2026

1. Alaska
Total food inspector jobs: 107
Average annual salary: $48,054
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000
Location Quotient:
1.46
Food inspector jobs in Alaska
2. Pennsylvania
Total food inspector jobs: 1,138
Average annual salary: $51,055
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Food inspector jobs in Pennsylvania
3. West Virginia
Total food inspector jobs: 157
Average annual salary: $43,246
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Food inspector jobs in West Virginia
4. Delaware
Total food inspector jobs: 119
Average annual salary: $47,621
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Food inspector jobs in Delaware
5. Wisconsin
Total food inspector jobs: 540
Average annual salary: $44,306
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Food inspector jobs in Wisconsin
6. Connecticut
Total food inspector jobs: 318
Average annual salary: $47,204
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Food inspector jobs in Connecticut
7. New Jersey
Total food inspector jobs: 601
Average annual salary: $49,884
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Location Quotient:
0.86
Food inspector jobs in New Jersey
8. Vermont
Total food inspector jobs: 81
Average annual salary: $44,000
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
1.21
Food inspector jobs in Vermont
9. Arizona
Total food inspector jobs: 600
Average annual salary: $44,103
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Food inspector jobs in Arizona
10. Iowa
Total food inspector jobs: 308
Average annual salary: $43,514
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Food inspector jobs in Iowa

Food inspector jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a food inspector

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a food inspector

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$48,054	$31,000	739,795	107
2	Pennsylvania	$51,055	$31,000	12,805,537	1,138
3	West Virginia	$43,246	$28,000	1,815,857	157
4	Delaware	$47,621	$29,000	961,939	119
5	Wisconsin	$44,306	$30,000	5,795,483	540
6	Connecticut	$47,204	$29,000	3,588,184	318
7	New Jersey	$49,884	$31,000	9,005,644	601
8	Vermont	$44,000	$29,000	623,657	81
9	Arizona	$44,103	$27,000	7,016,270	600
10	Iowa	$43,514	$30,000	3,145,711	308
11	New York	$49,158	$30,000	19,849,399	1,060
12	Nevada	$44,985	$27,000	2,998,039	186
13	Maine	$42,354	$28,000	1,335,907	141
14	New Hampshire	$44,644	$28,000	1,342,795	157
15	Ohio	$43,437	$28,000	11,658,609	838
16	Indiana	$41,918	$28,000	6,666,818	628
17	Texas	$44,056	$27,000	28,304,596	1,759
18	Kentucky	$40,259	$27,000	4,454,189	382
19	New Mexico	$43,898	$27,000	2,088,070	170
20	Rhode Island	$46,350	$28,000	1,059,639	81
21	Massachusetts	$45,970	$29,000	6,859,819	732
22	Virginia	$43,056	$27,000	8,470,020	960
23	North Dakota	$42,755	$31,000	755,393	66
24	Alabama	$41,800	$27,000	4,874,747	379
25	Wyoming	$40,695	$27,000	579,315	58
26	Maryland	$47,057	$29,000	6,052,177	438
27	Minnesota	$43,268	$30,000	5,576,606	515
28	Kansas	$40,973	$28,000	2,913,123	259
29	South Carolina	$38,853	$25,000	5,024,369	567
30	Illinois	$43,655	$30,000	12,802,023	804
31	California	$45,727	$27,000	39,536,653	2,157
32	Tennessee	$36,842	$24,000	6,715,984	632
33	District of Columbia	$46,283	$29,000	693,972	73
34	South Dakota	$36,711	$25,000	869,666	114
35	Montana	$38,696	$26,000	1,050,493	115
36	North Carolina	$37,322	$24,000	10,273,419	995
37	Michigan	$36,888	$24,000	9,962,311	772
38	Georgia	$38,225	$25,000	10,429,379	971
39	Mississippi	$35,128	$23,000	2,984,100	283
40	Hawaii	$42,010	$31,000	1,427,538	57
41	Florida	$36,038	$23,000	20,984,400	1,548
42	Washington	$37,916	$24,000	7,405,743	614
43	Idaho	$37,411	$24,000	1,716,943	125
44	Missouri	$38,026	$25,000	6,113,532	443
45	Colorado	$34,201	$23,000	5,607,154	572
46	Utah	$35,807	$23,000	3,101,833	239
47	Nebraska	$35,414	$24,000	1,920,076	158
48	Arkansas	$32,885	$22,000	3,004,279	220
49	Oklahoma	$33,982	$22,000	3,930,864	242
50	Louisiana	$31,924	$20,000	4,684,333	257
51	Oregon	$26,867	$16,000	4,142,776	278

Highest paying states for food inspectors

Rank	State	Avg. Food Inspector Salary
1	Alaska	$48,054
2	Pennsylvania	$51,055
3	West Virginia	$43,246
4	Delaware	$47,621
5	Wisconsin	$44,306
6	Connecticut	$47,204
7	New Jersey	$49,884
8	Vermont	$44,000
9	Arizona	$44,103
10	Iowa	$43,514
11	New York	$49,158
12	Nevada	$44,985
13	Maine	$42,354
14	New Hampshire	$44,644
15	Ohio	$43,437
16	Indiana	$41,918
17	Texas	$44,056
18	Kentucky	$40,259
19	New Mexico	$43,898
20	Rhode Island	$46,350
21	Massachusetts	$45,970
22	Virginia	$43,056
23	North Dakota	$42,755
24	Alabama	$41,800
25	Wyoming	$40,695
26	Maryland	$47,057
27	Minnesota	$43,268
28	Kansas	$40,973
29	South Carolina	$38,853
30	Illinois	$43,655
31	California	$45,727
32	Tennessee	$36,842
33	District of Columbia	$46,283
34	South Dakota	$36,711
35	Montana	$38,696
36	North Carolina	$37,322
37	Michigan	$36,888
38	Georgia	$38,225
39	Mississippi	$35,128
40	Hawaii	$42,010
41	Florida	$36,038
42	Washington	$37,916
43	Idaho	$37,411
44	Missouri	$38,026
45	Colorado	$34,201
46	Utah	$35,807
47	Nebraska	$35,414
48	Arkansas	$32,885
49	Oklahoma	$33,982
50	Louisiana	$31,924
51	Oregon	$26,867

Food inspector best states FAQs

What is the best state for food inspectors?

What is the highest paying state for food inspectors?

What is the worst state for food inspectors?

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Search for food inspector jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total food inspector jobs:	107
Average annual salary:	$48,054
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$74,000
Location Quotient:	1.46

Best states for a food inspector

10 best states for food inspectors in 2026

1. Alaska

2. Pennsylvania

3. West Virginia

4. Delaware

5. Wisconsin

6. Connecticut

7. New Jersey

8. Vermont

9. Arizona

10. Iowa