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Food Inspector Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

We take pride in producing high-quality food products while maintaining the highest standards of ... We are currently hiring entry-level Quality Control Inspectors to support our production team. No ...

Quality Inspector II

Mukilteo, WA · On-site

$29 - $36/hr

Visual inspection of product according to customer requirements * Inspect and or test in-process ... food, and industrials. With locations in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Washington, Wisconsin ...

We take pride in producing high-quality food products while maintaining the highest standards of ... We are currently hiring entry-level Quality Control Inspectors to support our production team. No ...

We take pride in producing high-quality food products while maintaining the highest standards of ... We are currently hiring entry-level Quality Control Inspectors to support our production team. No ...

Quality Inspector

Fife, WA · On-site

$25 - $40/hr

Inspect aerospace machined parts and assemblies using coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) running PC-DMIS software. * Conduct conventional inspections using hand tools such as height gages, calipers ...

Inspector II

Everett, WA · On-site

$25 - $30/hr

QA inspector 2 will refine skills developed in their previous position and will become a resource for higher level QA duties, training and development. Duties & responsibilities: · Inspect parts ...

Quality Inspector

Auburn, WA · On-site

$22 - $28/hr

Our Quality Inspectors inspect products and/or documents at various stages of production, to validate processes and provide documentation required to show compliance to the Sonaca North America ...

Our Quality Inspectors inspect products and/or documents at various stages of production, to validate processes and provide documentation required to show compliance to the Sonaca North America ...

Do you have 1 year of quality inspection experience and blueprint reading skills? An established aerospace company is looking to add a Quality Inspector to their team! If you're detail-oriented and ...

Quality Inspector

Woodinville, WA · On-site

$36 - $45/hr

QUALITY INSPECTOR As a Starlink Aviation Quality Inspector, you will be responsible for executing a wide variety of inspections, nonconformance documentation, and the resolution of Starlink Aviation ...

Quality Inspector

Woodinville, WA · On-site

$36 - $45/hr

QUALITY INSPECTOR As a Starlink Aviation Quality Inspector, you will be responsible for executing a wide variety of inspections, nonconformance documentation, and the resolution of Starlink Aviation ...

Harper Engineering Co. is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented inspector who is committed to maintaining high-quality compliance throughout the inspection process to join our Quality team. Who We ...

Quality Inspector

Renton, WA · On-site

$24 - $28/hr

Harper Engineering Co. is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented inspector who is committed to maintaining high-quality compliance throughout the inspection process to join our Quality team. Who We ...

Home Inspector

Bremerton, WA · On-site

$60 - $75/hr

Asteroom is seeking licensed Home Inspectors to join our growing team. If you're a seasoned professional with experience inspecting residential properties, we want to hear from you. As we continue ...

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Food Inspector information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$12.5K

$46.4K

$71.7K

How much do food inspector jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for food inspector in Seattle, WA is $46,414.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42,700.00 and $49,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Is a Food Inspector?

A food inspector makes sure that all food produced at a farm, processing plant, slaughterhouse, or other food production facility meets rigorous health and safety requirements before shipment. As a food inspector, your duties include performing physical inspections of the food, investigating health, sanitation, and safety practices at a facility, and writing reports based off of your investigations and interviews. You must be able to notice any potential for bacterial or other contamination and be willing to stop production to uphold public safety.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Food Inspector, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Food Inspector, you need a solid understanding of food safety regulations, microbiology, and public health, usually supported by a relevant degree or certification. Familiarity with inspection tools, laboratory testing equipment, and reporting systems is essential for effective monitoring and documentation. Attention to detail, analytical thinking, and strong communication skills help Food Inspectors identify risks and collaborate with various stakeholders. These skills and qualities are crucial to ensure public safety, regulatory compliance, and the integrity of the food supply chain.

What are some common challenges Food Inspectors face during inspections, and how can they effectively address them?

Food Inspectors often encounter challenges such as non-compliance with safety regulations, language barriers with facility staff, and time constraints when inspecting multiple sites. To address these issues, inspectors rely on clear communication, detailed checklists, and ongoing training to stay current with evolving food safety standards. Building rapport with facility personnel and maintaining a thorough, objective approach helps ensure that all issues are identified and resolved efficiently, ultimately protecting public health.

What are Food Inspectors?

Food Inspectors are professionals responsible for ensuring that food products meet safety and quality standards set by government agencies. They examine food processing facilities, storage areas, and products to detect contamination, improper handling, and violations of health regulations. Their work helps prevent foodborne illnesses and ensures that consumers receive safe, high-quality food. Food Inspectors may also collect samples for laboratory analysis and educate businesses about food safety practices.

What is the difference between Food Inspector vs Food Safety Officer?

AspectFood InspectorFood Safety Officer
Required CredentialsDegree in Food Technology, Microbiology, or related field; certification may be requiredSimilar qualifications as Food Inspector; often requires additional training in food safety standards
Work EnvironmentInspecting food production units, markets, and restaurantsOverseeing food safety compliance, conducting audits, and public awareness
Employer & Industry UsageGovernment agencies, food manufacturing, and inspection departmentsGovernment health departments, regulatory agencies, and food industry

Both Food Inspectors and Food Safety Officers work to ensure food quality and safety, often with overlapping roles. Food Inspectors primarily focus on inspecting food establishments and products, while Food Safety Officers handle broader compliance and public health initiatives. The roles are complementary, with similar qualifications and work environments, but differ slightly in scope and responsibilities.

What are popular job titles related to Food Inspector jobs in Seattle, WA? For Food Inspector jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Food Inspector jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Food Inspector jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Food Inspector jobs? Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Food Inspector job openings:
Infographic showing various Food Inspector job openings in Seattle, WA as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 7% Full Time, 90% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $46,414 per year, or $22.3 per hour.

$50.46K/yr

Other

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is available.
Shifts and species will vary based on assignment. For add'l information call:
Denver, CO: Dr. Chris Yol @ 303-349-3550
Stanwood, WA: Dr. Sara Pennell @ 425-923-9804
Woodland, WA: Dr. Susan McKelvey @ 509-797-3967
Redmond, WA: Dr. Justeen Zara @ 719-849-1829
Employee may be detailed to any shift at any plant in the Denver District.Qualifications:Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Time-In-Grade:
Applicants must meet requirements for one year at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade. (e.g. one year at the GS-05 grade level for consideration for the GS-07 grade level.)
Specialized experience:
Specialized experience is experience that provided you with knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities or other products for human consumption. Such experience may have been acquired in work such as consumer safety inspector or inspection aide, food inspector, public health inspector, quality inspection specialist, or similar position with responsibility for sampling, quality control and sanitation in a food manufacturing or production environment, or similar environment for other ingestible items.
See specific grade level specialized experience definitions below.
For the GS-07 Level: In addition to the qualifications above, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level), and incumbents are expected to have performed standard and recurrent duties on an independent basis. Your resume should demonstrate at least 52 weeks of experience in independently carrying out routine, standard assignments on a regular and recurring basis that provided you with knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities and substances; such as: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other food for human consumption, and other ingestible substances, such as pharmaceuticals.
For the GS-08 Level: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level). In addition to the qualifications above, experience must include working with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts in order to inspect meat, poultry and egg products; working with basic SSOP and HACCP principles and practices in order to verify plant HACCP and SSOP responsibilities; performing basic mathematics and elementary statistical concepts and methods to perform testing and sampling procedures; and experience in reaching and interpreting conclusions.
For the GS-09 Level: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-08 level). In addition to the qualifications above, incumbents are expected to have experience working at a more independent level than lower graded CSIs, which may include duties such as recommending refusal of exports and providing temporary coverage at locations outside of the official duty station.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Please view OPM's Qualifications Standards, Consumer Safety Inspector Series, GS-1862.
The duties of a Consumer Safety Inspector are performed in a hazardous working environment. For additional information, please click here. The below requirements are not an all-inclusive list. Failure to fully meet a functional requirement is not automatically disqualifying.Education:Education may be used to qualify in lieu of specialized experience as described below.
For the GS-07 Level: One full year of directly related graduate education is qualifying for GS-07.
OR
A combination of education and specialized experience. In this instance, only graduate education directly related to the work of the position is creditable towards meeting the requirements, along with specialized work experience. The combination must equal 100% of the requirement. For example, if you have 33% of the education requirement, then you will need 67% of the specialized experience requirement.
For the GS-09 Level: Two full years of directly related graduate education or a directly related master's degree is qualifying for GS-09.
OR
A combination of education and specialized experience. In this instance, only graduate education in excess of the first 18 semester hours directly related to the work of the position is creditable towards meeting the requirements, along with specialized work experience. The combination must equal 100% of the requirement. For example, if you have 33% of the education requirement, then you will need 67% of the specialized experience requirement.Employment Type: OTHER