Also called: USDA PPQ Officer, Plant Protection & Quarantine Specialist
Federal inspector who stops invasive pests and plant diseases from entering the US.
Inspects shipping containers of fruit at a port for hidden insects, sets traps for invasive moths, and leads eradication when a new pest shows up.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in biology, botany, or agriculture.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Plant Science, Entomology, Biology.
Growing about average. Tracks BLS biological scientists.
Low risk for 10 years. Scanners help, but inspecting cargo for hidden insects and setting traps stay hands-on federal work.
Classes: Biology, Agriculture CTE, Environmental science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 45-2011.
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