1

Meat Inspector Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Meat Wrapper

Marshall, MN · On-site

$15 - $18.75/hr

Meat Wrap Coordinator Department: Meat FLSA : Non-Exempt General Function : This position is ... Serves as the final inspector of product before it is displayed. * Ensures signage is correct.

Meat Wrap Coordinator Department: Meat FLSA : Non-Exempt General Function : This position is ... Serves as the final inspector of product before it is displayed. * Ensures signage is correct.

QA Lab Technician

Albert Lea, MN

$17.50 - $23.25/hr

Cargill Turkey and Cooked Meats facilities utilize state-of-the-art beef, pork and turkey ... inspect incoming raw material and outbound product shipments, and verify food safety and quality ...

Cook

Lake Elmo, MN · On-site

$14 - $18.75/hr

Prepare, season, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, and other foods ... Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment and work surfaces, or serving area to ...

Cook

Saint Paul, MN · On-site

$20/hr

Prepare, season, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, and other foods ... Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment and work surfaces, or serving area to ...

Cook

Lake Elmo, MN · On-site

$14 - $18.75/hr

Prepare, season, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, and other foods ... Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment and work surfaces, or serving area to ...

Production Worker Packaging

Mankato, MN · On-site

$15.25 - $18.25/hr

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks. Work Hours: Monday - Thursday 4p ... Perform standard operating procedures of production and inspection functions as directed.

Sanitation Specialist

Mankato, MN · On-site

$15.50 - $18.75/hr

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks. Work Schedule is 6pm - 6am on a ... Completes pre-inspections prior to FSQ (Quality) doing pre-operation inspections to minimize ...

Sanitation Specialist

Mankato, MN · On-site

$15.50 - $18.75/hr

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks. Work Schedule is 6pm - 6am on a ... Completes pre-inspections prior to FSQ (Quality) doing pre-operation inspections to minimize ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Meat Inspector information

See Minnesota salary details

$19

$21

$24

How much do meat inspector jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for meat inspector in Minnesota is $21.99, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.00 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do you become a meat inspector?

To become a meat inspector, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by specialized training in meat inspection or food safety. Many states require passing a written exam and gaining certification from agencies such as the USDA, which may also involve on-the-job training and periodic recertification.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a meat inspector?

To thrive as a Meat Inspector, you need a solid understanding of food safety regulations, animal anatomy, and quality control procedures, typically supported by relevant certifications or completion of government-approved training programs. Familiarity with inspection tools, laboratory testing equipment, and digital record-keeping systems is often required. Strong attention to detail, communication skills, and the ability to work independently are valuable soft skills in this role. These qualifications ensure that meat products are safe for consumption and comply with all regulatory standards.

Is it hard to become a meat inspector?

Becoming a meat inspector typically requires completing relevant education or training, such as a high school diploma or equivalent, and passing a certification exam. The process involves understanding food safety standards, inspection procedures, and sometimes gaining experience in meat processing environments, making it a specialized but attainable career path for those with the necessary skills and training.

What are the typical challenges faced by meat inspectors on the job?

Meat Inspectors often encounter challenges such as working in cold or fast-paced processing environments, staying vigilant during repetitive inspections, and consistently applying complex food safety regulations. They may also need to handle difficult conversations with plant staff when identifying violations or unsafe practices. Despite these challenges, inspectors play a crucial role in protecting public health and often work alongside other quality assurance professionals. Regular training and a supportive team structure help overcome these challenges and promote professional growth in the field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Meat Inspector jobs in Minnesota? The most popular types of Meat Inspector jobs in Minnesota are:
What are popular job titles related to Meat Inspector jobs in Minnesota? For Meat Inspector jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Meat Inspector jobs? Cities in Minnesota with the most Meat Inspector job openings:
Infographic showing various Meat Inspector job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $45,735 per year, or $22 per hour.

$40K/yr

Full-time

PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

$5,000 Sign on Bonus, Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual, Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and Referral Bonus Awards are available.
Shifts and species will vary based on assignment. For add'l information call Fort Madison IA : FLS Adam Zimmerman at (801) 946-4808 or Austin MN: Dr. Jason Schewe at 507-381-3911.
Employee may be detailed to any shift at any plant in theDes Moines District.Qualifications:Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
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-05 Level: Applicants must have at least 52 weeks of qualifying experience that provided knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities and substances; such as: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other food or beverages for human consumption, or other ingestible substances, such as pharmaceuticals. You are to show in your resume examples such as applying proper techniques for collecting samples and/or performing field tests and examinations (e.g. identifying abnormalities in the product or production environment and recommending corrective actions), developing written reports and/or reporting findings of results orally (e.g. documenting abnormalities in the product or production environment and communicating those findings to others), and/or skill in maintaining effective personal contacts with a variety of individuals (e.g. discussing findings with internal or external contacts regarding the food safety standards established in the production environment), or other similar work making determinations on products for human consumption or the production environment (e.g. ensuring conformance with established standards). Such experience may have been acquired working positions such as consumer safety inspector or inspection aid, food inspector, public health inspector, quality inspection specialist, or other related position.
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-05 level: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours/credits in any combination of coursework in the areas of: agricultural, biological, or physical sciences, food technology, epidemiology, home economics, pharmacy, engineering, or nutrition. Specialized government or military training may be creditable if it is related directly to this position.
OR
A combination of education and specialized experience. In this instance, only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (with some related coursework, as described in number 2 above) 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-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