Job Details
Agricultural/Weights and Measures Inspector I
2026-03-31 State of California San Luis Obispo,CA
Description:
Click here to view the full job description. We look forward to hearing from you!
Click here to view our 2024 Crop Report!
The Ideal Candidate
Education and Experience
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in agriculture, biology, chemistry, physical science, mathematics, physics, statistics or other related fields that meet the minimum qualifications for County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist and County Weights and Measures Inspector license examinations as determined by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
Must obtain one (of eight) valid CDFA license within six months of appointment. The six-month requirement may be extended up to an additional six months at the discretion of the appointing authority.
Possession of a valid driver's license is required at the time of application. A valid CALIFORNIA driver's license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment. A CALIFORNIA Commercial Class B Driver's License is not required at the time of appointment, but the ability to obtain one may be required depending on the employee's program assignment.
Other Specifications
Other Conditions of Employment:
Employees must be willing and able to respond to after-normal workday or irregular and on-call emergency requests on nights, weekends and holidays. Travel may be required to and from work sites, businesses and other locations.
Subclass Recruitment:
Recruitment for positions in this classification or career series may be conducted according to the specialized qualifications of the position as determined by department management.
How to Apply
Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.
An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.
Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at . Confidential inquiries are welcomed.
For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at.
Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-###-#### for assistance or e-mail ...@co.slo.ca.us for more information.
Veteran's Preference Points
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)###-####.
Make a Difference
Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.
Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.
In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail .
For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated .
Some benefits include:
- Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
- Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
- Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
- Free visits to the employee health clinic
- Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
- Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
- A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
- Optional deferred compensation plan
- Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
- Paid personal, sick and vacation days
- 12 paid holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Education and Wellness Allowance
- Post Employment Health Plan
- Family Friendly workplace policies
- Flexible work schedule options
-Rideshare commuter benefits
- Pet Insurance
The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.
Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) ###-####.
Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.
To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria),
Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.
Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:
- Emotional Intelligence
- Supervisor/Manager academies
- Microsoft Suite courses
- Defensive Driving
- Financial management
- Retirement preparedness
- Teambuilding
- Written Communication
- Conflict Management
- Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
- Job specific conferences/trainings
Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.
Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by to get a loan for the down payment.
01
Answer the following questions while taking into consideration the definition of the job you are applying for and the typical tasks and representative duties detailed in the job description:Describe any customer service experience you have as it relates to working with the public and/or an enforcement position.
02
Describe any experience you have, whether work-related or otherwise, performing precision measurements or working with equipment. For example, have you worked in a laboratory, mechanical, agricultural, or industrial setting? Have you used tools or machinery that required you to operate, maintain or perform accurate measurements? Please include any relevant experience that may apply.
03
Describe a time, either in your career or throughout your educational experience, where you were required to work in inclement weather conditions (heat, cold, wind/rain) and/or exposed to volatile substances (fuels, oils, compressed gases) or hazardous materials (pesticides, herbicides) in the course of your duties.
04
Describe any special experience, licensing or certifications you possess that would be advantageous or potentially apply to this position. For example, California Department of Food and Agriculture County Inspector Licenses, California Commercial Driver's license A or B, Certified crane operator, Heavy equipment, Electrician, Technical license or certifications, etc.
05
Describe how you would approach joining an established team. Explain what you think makes a team function successfully. Give examples, if applicable.
06
Please describe any experience you have with enforcement actions such as but not limited to preparing incident, complaint or investigative reports, Notices of Violation, Notices of Proposed Action or administrative hearings in which you have been involved.
Required Question
Salary : $65,624.00 - $83,782.40 Annually
Location : All Locations - San Luis Obispo County, CA
Job Type: Permanent - Hourly
Job Number: 0326PM-300754-01
Department: Agriculture / Weights and Measures
Division: Agricultural Commissioner Administration
Opening Date: 03/24/2026
Closing Date: 4/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
About the Position
In tandem with this recruitment, we are running a simultaneous recruitment for the Agricultural/Weights & Measures Technician classification. We encourage all candidates to read both job descriptions and submit an application to both recruitments if they meet the minimum requirements.
Do you enjoy working outdoors, staying active, and connecting with peoplein the agricultural and pest control industries? The San Luis Obispo County Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures invites you to apply!
We are currently hiring an Agricultural / Weights and Measures Inspector I to join our team. This role offers a unique opportunity to launch a rewarding career in regulatory inspection at the intersection of agriculture, public safety, and consumer protection.
In this entry-level position, you will work under close supervision as part of a collaborative team while gaining hands-on experience and training. You'll develop the technical skills needed to conduct field inspections, investigate pesticide-related complaints, and enforce applicable laws and regulations.
If you're someone who enjoys working outdoors, values integrity, and wants to contribute to something bigger than yourself, this is your chance to step into a career with purpose and growth.
Apply today and start building a future that matters.
Classes in this series perform a wide variety of inspections to enforce provisions of the California Food and Agricultural Code, California Code of Regulations, California Business and Professions Code, Structural Pest Control Act, Federal Regulations, Government Code, and County Code pertaining to the protection of the public, agricultural employees and fieldworkers, natural resources and the environment, and to protect consumers from fraud and deception in the enforcement of weights and measures laws and regulations.
Typical Tasks and Representative Duties
(not in order of importance):
- Conducts inspections and code enforcement in any number of departmental programs, verifying compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and local county ordinance.
- Conducts inspections on pesticide use monitoring and enforcement to ensure compliance with pesticide laws and regulations, incoming and exported plant material for compliance with applicable quarantine laws and regulations, commercial weighing and measuring devices, and/or Quality Control inspections, including the inspection of point-of-sale systems for transactional accuracy.
- Ensures compliance with international, federal, state, and local laws and regulations by evaluating applications for permits and certificates in the interest of public protection and safety, environmental and resource protection, the protection of agriculture, and consumer protection.
- Issues official inspection certificates, notices of violation, off-sale orders, disposal orders, hold orders, cease and desist orders, and stop work orders in accordance with applicable codes and regulations.
- Implements follow-up compliance and enforcement actions.
- Issues restricted material pesticide permits to meet the California Environmental Quality Act; issues operator identification numbers; validates, registers, and regulates agricultural and pest control businesses; inspects and regulates pesticide use to protect the public, agriculture, natural resources, and the environment.
- Detects and prevents the introduction of detrimental pests through inspections, surveys, trapping, and sampling; controls and/or eradicates pest plants, insects, and plant diseases in accordance with approved procedures, which may include the application of pesticides or biological control agents.
- Gathers and compiles evidence and prepares reports; collects, prepares, and submits official samples required for the enforcement or verification of regulatory compliance.
- Provides information and educational outreach to the general public, growers, and regulated industries.
- May act as the Department's or other enforcement agencies' expert witness in enforcement or other legal proceedings.
- Operates and maintains specialized equipment.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Click here to view the full job description. We look forward to hearing from you!
Click here to view our 2024 Crop Report!
The Ideal Candidate
Education and Experience
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in agriculture, biology, chemistry, physical science, mathematics, physics, statistics or other related fields that meet the minimum qualifications for County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist and County Weights and Measures Inspector license examinations as determined by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
Must obtain one (of eight) valid CDFA license within six months of appointment. The six-month requirement may be extended up to an additional six months at the discretion of the appointing authority.
Possession of a valid driver's license is required at the time of application. A valid CALIFORNIA driver's license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment. A CALIFORNIA Commercial Class B Driver's License is not required at the time of appointment, but the ability to obtain one may be required depending on the employee's program assignment.
Other Specifications
Other Conditions of Employment:
Employees must be willing and able to respond to after-normal workday or irregular and on-call emergency requests on nights, weekends and holidays. Travel may be required to and from work sites, businesses and other locations.
Subclass Recruitment:
Recruitment for positions in this classification or career series may be conducted according to the specialized qualifications of the position as determined by department management.
How to Apply
Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.
An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.
Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at . Confidential inquiries are welcomed.
For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at.
Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-###-#### for assistance or e-mail ...@co.slo.ca.us for more information.
Veteran's Preference Points
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)###-####.
Make a Difference
Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.
Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.
In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail .
For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated .
Some benefits include:
- Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
- Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
- Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
- Free visits to the employee health clinic
- Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
- Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
- A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
- Optional deferred compensation plan
- Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
- Paid personal, sick and vacation days
- 12 paid holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Education and Wellness Allowance
- Post Employment Health Plan
- Family Friendly workplace policies
- Flexible work schedule options
-Rideshare commuter benefits
- Pet Insurance
The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.
Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) ###-####.
Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.
To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria),
Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.
Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:
- Emotional Intelligence
- Supervisor/Manager academies
- Microsoft Suite courses
- Defensive Driving
- Financial management
- Retirement preparedness
- Teambuilding
- Written Communication
- Conflict Management
- Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
- Job specific conferences/trainings
Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.
Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by to get a loan for the down payment.
01
Answer the following questions while taking into consideration the definition of the job you are applying for and the typical tasks and representative duties detailed in the job description:Describe any customer service experience you have as it relates to working with the public and/or an enforcement position.
02
Describe any experience you have, whether work-related or otherwise, performing precision measurements or working with equipment. For example, have you worked in a laboratory, mechanical, agricultural, or industrial setting? Have you used tools or machinery that required you to operate, maintain or perform accurate measurements? Please include any relevant experience that may apply.
03
Describe a time, either in your career or throughout your educational experience, where you were required to work in inclement weather conditions (heat, cold, wind/rain) and/or exposed to volatile substances (fuels, oils, compressed gases) or hazardous materials (pesticides, herbicides) in the course of your duties.
04
Describe any special experience, licensing or certifications you possess that would be advantageous or potentially apply to this position. For example, California Department of Food and Agriculture County Inspector Licenses, California Commercial Driver's license A or B, Certified crane operator, Heavy equipment, Electrician, Technical license or certifications, etc.
05
Describe how you would approach joining an established team. Explain what you think makes a team function successfully. Give examples, if applicable.
06
Please describe any experience you have with enforcement actions such as but not limited to preparing incident, complaint or investigative reports, Notices of Violation, Notices of Proposed Action or administrative hearings in which you have been involved.
Required Question