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Usda Food Inspector Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Monitors Health and Fire Department inspections of cafeteria and related facilities, implementing ... and food storage. Some knowledge of USDA meal pattern and dietary guidelines and rules and ...

Kitchen Manager

Medford, MA · On-site

$31.40/hr

Monitors Health and Fire Department inspections of cafeteria and related facilities, implementing ... and food storage. Some knowledge of USDA meal pattern and dietary guidelines and rules and ...

Plant Manager

Boston, MA · On-site

$100 - $115/hr

This role owns production, food safety and regulatory compliance, labor management, capital asset ... Maintain and enforce HACCP, SQF (or equivalent GFSI scheme), FSMA, and applicable FDA/USDA ...

Sous Chef

Boston, MA · On-site

$54K - $73K/yr

... USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, award-winning wine list, and timeless elegance. Abe & Louie ... The Sous Chef identifies priorities for each shift focusing on food quality, cleanliness ...

Sous Chef

Boston, MA · On-site

$54K - $73K/yr

... USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, award-winning wine list, and timeless elegance. Abe & Louie ... The Sous Chef identifies priorities for each shift focusing on food quality, cleanliness ...

Plant Manager

Boston, MA · On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

This role owns productions, food safety and regulatory compliance, labor management, capital asset ... USDA regulations across all plant operations. • Lead audits, corrective action processes, and ...

This role owns productions, food safety and regulatory compliance, labor management, capital asset ... USDA regulations across all plant operations. • Lead audits, corrective action processes, and ...

Showing results 41-55

Usda Food Inspector information

See Boston, MA salary details

$11.9K

$44.3K

$68.4K

How much do usda food inspector jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for usda food inspector in Boston, MA is $44,309.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40,700.00 and $47,300.00 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 Boston, MA?

The most popular types of Usda Food Inspector jobs in Boston, MA are:

Infographic showing various Usda Food Inspector job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $44,309 per year, or $21.3 per hour.

$31.40/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 6 hours ago


Job description

Kitchen Manager 

Food Service Department, Location Varies, Hours vary by Location

K-8: 32.5 hours per week, 184 days

9-12: 35 hours per week, 184 days

$31.40 per hour

JOB DESCRIPTION

An employee in this class performs a variety of duties in the direct supervision of the food service program in one or more schools. Tasks are performed according to established guidelines and procedures. Employee must exercise considerable independent judgment and initiative in planning, developing, coordinating, and overseeing physical and human resources needed to effectively prepare and serve nutritious meals in pleasant eating environments. Employee is responsible for ordering and maintaining appropriate food and supply inventories, recording purchases, food production, program participation and revenues. The employee directly supervises other employees in the school cafeteria.

  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Plans, implements and supervises operation of an assigned school cafeteria for preparation and service of meals and other foods.

Follows and ensures adherence to established School, local, state and federal regulations and requirements as well as sanitation, food production and nutrition guidelines.  Establishes and ensures adherence to procedures and standards which are in agreement with these regulations, requirements and guidelines.

Ensures administration of federal meal programs in accordance with local, state, and federal rules and regulations.

Serves meals on time; provides quick, pleasant service to customers; works with principal to provide a pleasant eating environment.

Determines amount of food necessary for preparation of daily meals; determines and maintains proper inventories of necessary food supplies and materials, and prepares requisitions and/or orders; checks deliveries to ensure compliance with orders, and contacts appropriate persons to resolve discrepancies, as necessary.

Prepares production reports; ensures that staff follows standardized recipes and proper food production procedures; ensures that sufficient quantities of food are available for customers; obtains and records amount of food items prepared, served and discarded each day.

Maintains the cleanliness and organization of food production and storage areas; conducts monthly physical inventory of food and supplies.

Completes and submits correct required reports, activity records, documentation and surveys; submits accurate invoices, inventories, market orders, participation records and other records on time.

Oversees use of kitchen equipment, establishing and overseeing adherence to cleaning schedules, and requesting repair service as appropriate.

Monitors Health and Fire Department inspections of cafeteria and related facilities, implementing procedures to resolve identified problems or deficiencies, as necessary; may confer with Health or Fire Department officials to clarify extent of problems, resolution procedures, preventative measures, etc.

Inputs data and generates various daily, weekly and monthly computer reports, such as cash and other financial reports, inventories, and meal participation; verifies cash and checks received; monitors and collects charge balances; prepares and makes bank deposits.

Assigns, directs, and supervises cafeteria staff, ensuring adherence to established policies, procedures and standards; assists and advises subordinates, as necessary, resolving problems as non-routine situations arise; monitors job performance and provides fair, timely feedback regarding performance strengths and weaknesses. Completes annual performance evaluations for all cafeteria staff assigned to their building.

Completes daily work schedules for all cafeteria staff, ensuring that all team members' work is appropriate.

Assists in the preparation and service of breakfasts, lunches and other foods, as appropriate.

Maintains USDA-established minimum annual professional standards requirements as required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010.

Performs other related work as required.

  

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Graduation from high school supplemented with 3 to 5 years of experience in the preparation of food in quantity lots.

ServSafe Food Manager Certification required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office and kitchen machines including computers, calculators, ovens and stoves, meat slicers, shredders, can openers, kitchen utensils, etc.  Must be able to exert up to 80 pounds of force occasionally, up to 30 pounds of force frequently and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

Requires an ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, market orders, program applications, etc.  Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, purchase orders, etc. using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, and style.

Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems, and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written and oral form.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of food service administration, team building and customer service.

Considerable knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration.

Considerable knowledge of the methods, tools, techniques and practices of sanitation, food preparation and food storage.

Some knowledge of USDA meal pattern and dietary guidelines and rules and regulations regarding federal meal programs.

Some knowledge of the maintenance needs of large kitchen equipment.

Skilled in motivating staff to follow schools, local, state and federal rules, regulations, policies and procedures and in ensuring that staff members meet expectations.

Skilled in leading staff to provide quality meals and friendly service appropriate to a public school environment.

Skilled in projecting amounts of food to be prepared based on previous school history and to order sufficient quantities of necessary ingredients.

Skilled in maintaining complete and accurate records and in developing simple reports from those records.

Ability to comprehend written and verbal correspondence and to respond appropriately.

Ability to plan and implement operational policies, procedures, and standards.

Ability to set priorities and allocate time so that tasks are completed and deadlines are met in a timely manner.

Ability to exercise independent judgment and to use initiative when responding to emergencies, resolving problems and making improvements in the cafeteria operation.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to exercise tact, courtesy and firmness in frequent contact with co-workers, vendors, customers and subordinates.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND NATURE OF WORK CONTACTS

Works in cafeteria setting with kitchen, serving lines and storage areas. Extended periods of standing required. Frequent bending and lifting of food containers, food and pots weighing 10-30 pounds is required. Occasional bending and lifting of up to 50 pounds of items such as cases of food is required. Occasional exposure of damp floors, steam from equipment and potentially caustic cleaning materials is necessary. Use of institutional kitchen equipment, such as ovens, slicers, steamers, dish machine and similar items. Occasional contact is made with vendors, distributors and repair persons.

REPORTS TO:    Food Service Director

FSLA STATUS:    Non-Exempt

SALARY:In accordance with the Food Service Salary Schedule

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees in this job.