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Usda Food Inspector Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Astrix Inc

QA Lead (Food)

Pomona, CA · On-site

$21 - $23/hr

Conduct quality inspections of raw materials, in-process, and finished products. * Perform pre ... Strong working knowledge of food safety programs and regulatory requirements (FDA, USDA, HACCP, GMP ...

DEL REAL LLC

Quality Control Inspector I

Mira Loma, CA · On-site

$19.30 - $23.71/hr

Food and family lie at the core of everything we believe at Del Real Foods, and we invite you to ... Basic knowledge on HACCP and GMP requirements for employee practices in a USDA/FDA Establishment.

Changing Lives Staffing

Be Seen First

Food Manufacturing Maintenance Mechanic

Rancho Cucamonga, CA · On-site

$21 - $31/hr

... USDA/FDA-regulated food manufacturing environment. This position supports continuous plant ... Perform equipment inspections and identify potential maintenance or safety issues before breakdowns ...

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All JobsUsda Food Inspector JobsUsda Food Inspector Jobs in California

Usda Food Inspector information

See California salary details

$10.9K

$40.3K

$62.2K

How much do usda food inspector jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for usda food inspector in California is $40,251.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $37,000.00 and $42,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a USDA Food Inspector?

USDA Food Inspectors are trained professionals employed by the United States Department of Agriculture to ensure that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. They inspect food processing plants, slaughterhouses, and other facilities to enforce federal regulations and safety standards. Their work helps protect public health by preventing contaminated or unsafe food from reaching consumers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a USDA Food Inspector?

To thrive as a USDA Food Inspector, you need a solid understanding of food safety regulations, inspection procedures, and public health principles, typically supported by relevant experience or education in food science or a related field. Familiarity with inspection tools, data entry systems, and regulatory documentation is commonly required, and some roles may require specific USDA training or certifications. Strong attention to detail, integrity, and effective communication are essential soft skills for this position. These skills ensure that food products meet safety standards, protecting public health and maintaining regulatory compliance.

What are some common challenges USDA Food Inspectors face in their daily work?

USDA Food Inspectors often encounter challenges such as working in fast-paced environments, ensuring strict adherence to food safety regulations, and effectively communicating with plant management and workers. They must be vigilant in identifying potential hazards and making quick decisions to prevent unsafe food from reaching consumers. The role may also involve working in varying temperatures and standing for long periods, which requires adaptability and attention to detail. Strong teamwork and clear documentation are essential for maintaining high standards and addressing compliance issues.

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

AspectUsda Food InspectorFood Safety Auditor
CertificationsFood Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) certifications, possibly HACCPISO 22000, HACCP, or other food safety standards
Work EnvironmentInspecting meat, poultry, and processed foods at processing plantsAuditing food facilities for compliance, often off-site or at multiple locations
Employer & IndustryUSDA, government agencies, food processing industryPrivate consulting firms, food companies, regulatory agencies

While both roles focus on food safety, USDA Food Inspectors primarily conduct on-site inspections of food processing facilities to ensure compliance with federal standards. Food Safety Auditors evaluate and verify food safety management systems through audits, often working across multiple sites. Both roles require knowledge of food safety regulations but differ in their scope and work environment.

How hard is it to be a USDA Food Inspector?

Becoming a USDA Food Inspector requires passing a competitive exam, meeting education and experience requirements, and often completing training programs. The job involves detailed inspections, adherence to safety standards, and sometimes working in challenging environments, but it is generally accessible to those with relevant qualifications and attention to detail.

How long does it take to become a USDA Food Inspector?

Becoming a USDA Food Inspector typically requires completing a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as food science, agriculture, or biology, which takes about four years. Afterward, candidates usually undergo specialized training provided by the USDA, which can last several weeks to months, depending on the program and the specific inspection area.

How to become a USDA Food Inspector?

To become a USDA Food Inspector, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, relevant work experience, and must pass a written exam and a background check. Additional qualifications may include knowledge of food safety standards, inspection procedures, and sometimes specialized training or certifications. The USDA also offers training programs for new inspectors to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

What are the most commonly searched types of Usda Food Inspector jobs in California?

The most popular types of Usda Food Inspector jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Usda Food Inspector jobs?

Cities in California with the most Usda Food Inspector job openings:

Usda Food Inspector jobs near you
Infographic showing various Usda Food Inspector job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, 31% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,251 per year, or $19.4 per hour.

Food Safety & USDA Regulatory Compliance Manager

Revolution Foods

Carson, CA

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on FSQA Manager to lead food safety, quality, and USDA regulatory compliance at our Southern California manufacturing facility. This role will be instrumental as Revolution Foods expands its manufacturing capabilities, transitions further into scratch cooking, and increases the complexity of our USDA-regulated Raw and Ready-to-Eat (RTE) production.

This is a highly visible, floor-facing role for an experienced USDA food manufacturing professional who can confidently partner with USDA/FSIS, Manufacturing, Operations, and R&D while building scalable food safety and quality systems to support our next stage of growth.

The role will initially operate as a senior individual contributor with significant ownership and autonomy, with the opportunity to build and lead an FSQA team as our manufacturing operations scale and expand.

What You’ll Lead & Own

  • Serve as the primary day-to-day liaison with USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS), maintaining strong regulatory relationships and ensuring the facility remains audit and inspection ready
  • Interface directly with USDA personnel on a daily basis, confidently interpreting regulatory requirements, responding to questions and challenges, and providing sound technical and scientific rationale for the facility’s food safety programs
  • Maintain comprehensive knowledge of USDA/FSIS regulations and USDA HACCP processing categories, ensuring requirements are effectively implemented throughout the manufacturing operation
  • Design, validate, maintain, and continuously improve HACCP plans across applicable USDA categories, including Raw and Ready-to-Eat (RTE) production such as burritos and pizza
  • Serve as the facility’s technical authority on critical food processing controls, including kill steps, thermal processing, cooking parameters, cooling curves, cross-contamination prevention, sanitation, and sanitary design
  • Participate directly in pre-operational inspections and production startup, ensuring equipment, sanitation, documentation, and manufacturing conditions meet USDA and company food safety requirements prior to production
  • Maintain compliance with USDA labeling requirements, including product labeling, ingredient declarations, allergens, regulatory documentation, and applicable label approval requirements
  • Partner closely with Manufacturing, Operations, R&D, and Supply Chain to integrate new products and processes into production, ensuring food safety and regulatory requirements are addressed before launch
  • Play a critical role in Revolution Foods’ transition to increased scratch cooking and more complex food manufacturing, ensuring new processes are appropriately incorporated into HACCP and food safety programs
  • Maintain and strengthen SQF systems and audit readiness, ensuring programs, documentation, and manufacturing practices consistently meet certification requirements
  • Oversee the Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP), leveraging microbiological results, production trends, and operational data to drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), root cause analysis (RCA), and continuous improvement
  • Work in close partnership with Manufacturing and Operations leadership to balance high-volume production requirements with uncompromising food safety and quality standards
  • Establish clear FSQA KPIs, reporting, documentation, and accountability to identify risk, improve performance, and support operational decision-making
  • Build scalable FSQA processes and systems that can support increased manufacturing complexity, production volume, and future company growth
  • Operate initially as a highly hands-on individual contributor, with the opportunity to build, develop, and lead an FSQA team as the operation expands

What You Bring

  • 10–15 years of progressive FSQA experience within high-volume, USDA-regulated food manufacturing facilities
  • Extensive hands-on experience working directly with USDA/FSIS inspectors and regulatory personnel, including regular or daily interaction within an operating USDA facility
  • Expert-level understanding of USDA/FSIS regulations, HACCP requirements, and USDA HACCP processing categories
  • Significant experience with USDA-regulated Raw and Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food manufacturing
  • Deep technical expertise in food processing systems, including kill steps, thermal processing, cooling curves, sanitation, cross-contamination controls, and sanitary design
  • Demonstrated ability to interpret USDA regulations, confidently address regulatory challenges, support technical positions, and implement effective corrective actions
  • Strong working knowledge of USDA labeling requirements for regulated food products
  • Strong knowledge of SQF requirements, food safety systems, certification standards, and audit preparation
  • HACCP certification required
  • Experience with scratch cooking, fresh food manufacturing, or complex prepared-food production strongly preferred
  • Experience supporting new product launches, manufacturing process changes, facility expansion, or increased production complexity
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish required, with the ability to communicate effectively with frontline manufacturing teams and reinforce food safety and quality standards
  • Strong cross-functional partnership skills with the ability to influence Manufacturing, Operations, R&D, and Supply Chain teams
  • Highly hands-on leadership style with a willingness to work directly on the production floor and take ownership of both strategic initiatives and day-to-day execution
  • Proven ability to operate independently, build programs and processes, and develop scalable systems in a growing manufacturing environment
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Food Safety, or a related field

Schedule & Work Environment

  • Primary schedule: 5:00 AM – 1:30 PM, Monday through Friday
  • This is a five-day, onsite role currently based at our Carson, CA manufacturing facility, with the position relocating to our new La Mirada, CA facility in early 2027
  • Highly floor-facing and hands-on, including active participation in pre-op and production startup
  • Flexibility may be required to support USDA activity, audits, production changes, food safety incidents, or other critical operational needs

Salary Range: $115,000 - 135,000

Revolution Foods provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact hrsupport@revolutionfoods.com or call 323.838.5555, extension 4, to speak with a representative.

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