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Salary comparison

Agricultural Inspectors vs. Airfield Operations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Airfield Operations Specialists out-earn Agricultural Inspectors by $7K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Agricultural Inspectors land at $49,940 and Airfield Operations Specialists at $56,850. The education gap is real: agricultural inspector programs typically require no formal educational credential, while airfield operations specialist programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Agricultural Inspectors is Minnesota ($77,150); for Airfield Operations Specialists it's Kentucky ($123,290).

Agricultural Inspectors
Airfield Operations Specialists
Median salary
$49,940
$56,850
Hourly rate
$24.01/hr
$27.33/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$37,020
$35,870
Senior level (90th %)
$79,580
$102,120
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
14,410
15,190
Job growth (10-year)
1.5%
4.2%
Category
Farming & Fishing
Transportation
Top-paying state
Minnesota
Kentucky

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Agricultural Inspectors median pay.

State
Agricultural Inspectors
Airfield Operations Specialists
Michigan
$65,730
$61,780
Washington
$62,880
$84,050
Utah
$53,930
$59,780
California
$53,620
$62,600
Oregon
$53,060
$75,130
New Mexico
$52,450
$69,090
Colorado
$50,430
$77,500
Texas
$49,940
$60,910
Idaho
$48,650
$62,510
Virginia
$47,380
$72,250
Kentucky
$46,640
$123,290
Arizona
$45,700
$77,570
Georgia
$41,460
$66,790
Alabama
$39,300
$78,590
Nevada
$39,270
$61,350

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Agricultural Inspectors or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Airfield Operations Specialists earn more nationally. The median is $49,940 for Agricultural Inspectors versus $56,850 for Airfield Operations Specialists, a difference of $7K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Agricultural Inspectors or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Airfield Operations Specialists has the better 10-year outlook at 4.2% projected growth, compared to 1.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Agricultural Inspectors or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Agricultural Inspectors typically requires no formal educational credential. Airfield Operations Specialists requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Agricultural Inspectors get paid the most?

Minnesota is the top-paying state for Agricultural Inspectors at $77,150/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Agricultural Inspectors vs. Airfield Operations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Michigan, Agricultural Inspectors earn $65,730 vs. $61,780 for Airfield Operations Specialists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Agricultural Inspectors salary breakdownView →Full Airfield Operations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Agricultural Inspectors by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Airfield Operations Specialists by take-home payExplore →How to become a agricultural inspectorsGuide →How to become a airfield operations specialistsGuide →