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Restaurant Inspector Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Performs regular restaurant inspections to ensure team and restaurant is meeting standards. Tracks inventory and ensures accurate record keeping. Identifies and resolve issues with food preparation.

Restaurant Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site

$55K - $65K/yr

Conducts daily inspection of restaurant to ensure compliance with health, safety, food handling, and hygiene standards. * Organizes and oversees employee schedules. * Maintains & ensures accurate ...

Restaurant Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site

$55K - $65K/yr

Conducts daily inspection of restaurant to ensure compliance with health, safety, food handling, and hygiene standards. * Organizes and oversees employee schedules. * Maintains & ensures accurate ...

Restaurant Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site

$55K - $65K/yr

Conducts daily inspection of restaurant to ensure compliance with health, safety, food handling, and hygiene standards. * Organizes and oversees employee schedules. * Maintains & ensures accurate ...

Utilizes management information tools to analyze restaurant operational and financial performance eachPeriod, including the I&E, quality and service reports, health inspections, HACCP, etc ...

Utilizes management information tools to analyze restaurant operational and financial performance eachPeriod, including the I&E, quality and service reports, health inspections, HACCP, etc ...

Utilizes management information tools to analyze restaurant operational and financial performance eachPeriod, including the I&E, quality and service reports, health inspections, HACCP, etc ...

Utilizes management information tools to analyze restaurant operational and financial performance eachPeriod, including the I&E, quality and service reports, health inspections, HACCP, etc ...

Utilizes management information tools to analyze restaurant operational and financial performance eachPeriod, including the I&E, quality and service reports, health inspections, HACCP, etc ...

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Restaurant Inspector information

See California salary details

$24.2K

$54.2K

$97.7K

How much do restaurant inspector jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for restaurant inspector in California is $54,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,000.00 and $62,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Restaurant Inspector, you need a solid understanding of food safety regulations, public health standards, and inspection procedures, typically supported by a relevant degree or certification in environmental health or a related field. Familiarity with inspection reporting software, handheld data collection devices, and state or local compliance databases is often required. Attention to detail, strong communication, and impartial judgment are vital soft skills for interacting with restaurant staff and ensuring fair assessments. These skills and qualifications are crucial to uphold public health, enforce safety standards, and maintain trust in food service establishments.

What is the difference between Restaurant Inspector vs Food Safety Auditor?

AspectRestaurant InspectorFood Safety Auditor
CertificationsHealth and safety certifications, food safety trainingFood safety certifications, audit training
Work EnvironmentInspecting restaurants on-siteReviewing food safety processes remotely or on-site
Employer & Industry UsageLocal health departments, government agenciesPrivate companies, consulting firms
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding restaurant health inspectionsEvaluating food safety compliance audits

Both roles focus on food safety but differ in scope and setting. Restaurant Inspectors primarily conduct on-site health inspections of restaurants to ensure compliance with safety standards. Food Safety Auditors often perform comprehensive evaluations of food safety systems, sometimes remotely, for various clients. While overlapping in certifications and industry usage, their work environments and specific responsibilities vary.

What are some of the most common challenges faced by restaurant inspectors during site visits?

Restaurant inspectors often encounter challenges such as navigating busy kitchen environments while minimizing disruption, addressing language barriers with staff, and ensuring compliance with health codes in a wide range of establishments. Inspectors must also handle sensitive conversations professionally when violations are found, balancing regulatory enforcement with educational guidance. Staying up-to-date with evolving health regulations and managing a busy inspection schedule are also key aspects of the role.

What are restaurant inspectors?

Restaurant inspectors are public health professionals who evaluate food service establishments to ensure they comply with local, state, and federal health and safety regulations. Their job involves inspecting kitchens, storage areas, and dining spaces for cleanliness, proper food handling, and safe equipment operation. By identifying violations and educating staff, they help prevent foodborne illnesses and maintain public health standards. Restaurant inspectors may work for city, county, or state health departments and often conduct both routine and surprise inspections.
What job categories do people searching Restaurant Inspector jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Restaurant Inspector jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Restaurant Inspector jobs? Cities in California with the most Restaurant Inspector job openings:
Infographic showing various Restaurant Inspector job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,220 per year, or $26.1 per hour.

Popeyes - Restaurant General Manager

CENCAL POP, INC.

Turlock, CA

$22.50 - $24/hr

Full-time, Other

PTO

Posted 12 hours ago


Job description

A Restaurant General Manager (RGM) is an experienced restaurant leader that is dedicated to driving operational excellence through a memorable Guest experience. RGMs lead by example and provide guidance in their restaurant to all Team Members, Shift Managers, and Assistant Managers. RGMs are people-people who are passionate about helping their teams learn and grow every day. RGMs are responsible for onboarding new members of the team and maintaining a positive work environment by cultivating a positive restaurant culture. RGMs are their restaurant’s Popeyes® brand champion and inspire their teams to deliver food to guests that is cooked to perfection, made with love, and served up with Popeyes® famous Cajun Hospitality.

Key Skills/Abilities:

  • Customer service mentality; has a genuine desire to serve the customer
  • Maintains a calm, tactful demeanor when dealing with difficult situations
  • Ongoing learner; exhibits insatiable curiosity and an interest in self improvement
  • Ability to measure performance, subjectively and objectively
  • Cultivate attractive culture within the restaurant
  • Ability to handle numerous job duties essential to running a restaurant; must have a hands-on approach.
  • Competent in the key areas of responsibility which includes labor management, store operations, and customer care.
  • Superior leadership, organizational and time management skills.
  • Possesses a confident and professional demeanor. Inspires trust, models best practices and cultivates morale and teamwork among team members.
  • Proactive problem-solver and decision-maker.
  • Must thoroughly understand the importance of good hygiene and food handling practices.
  • Flexible schedule required, including weekends and nights.
  • Strong work ethic.
  • Minimum of 2 years of previous food service, retail or restaurant supervisory experience
  • Valid ServSafe

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling crew members, in partnership with the District Manager.
  • Works with the District Manager to manage performance, including coaching, counseling, and disciplining crew members.
  • Communicates job expectations to the staff; plans, monitors, and reviews performance of employees; plans and reviews compensation actions; enforces policies and procedures.
  • Communicates in a timely and effective manner with District Manager about operational and human resources issues.
  • Performs regular restaurant inspections to ensure team and restaurant is meeting standards.
  • Tracks inventory and labor to ensure accurate record keeping.
  • Identifies and resolves issues with food preparation.
  • Helps team handle customer service issues with grace, courtesy and with the goal of cultivating happy, returning customers.
  • Maintains safe, secure, and healthy facility environment by establishing, following, and enforcing sanitation standards and procedures; proper safety procedures, to include, but not limited to injury reporting, conducting meetings, equipment maintenance, etc., complying with health and legal regulations; maintaining security systems.
  • Accomplishes company goals by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different job responsibilities; explores opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

Pay: Hourly $22.50 - $24

Benefits:

  • Employee discount
  • Vacation
  • Paid Sick Time

Type: fulltime

Schedule:

  • 8 hour shift
  • Weekend availability
  • Monday to Friday
  • On call
  • Holidays
  • Day shift
  • Night shift
  • Overtime

Education: High school diploma

Work location: On-site