Quick Links:

• Iowa Department of Administrative Services Job Search: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa
• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Employment Opportunities: https://iowaagriculture.gov/administrative/employment-opportunities

How to Obtain a State Job: 

Applicants that are interested in working for the State of Iowa should search the Iowa Department of Administrative Services Job Search webpage (above) for positions of interest. Select the job posting of interest and review the job responsibilities and minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying for the position, select “Apply” to be directed to establish an account or log-in to your existing account to complete the online application. Applications are only accepted if a vacancy is posted on the website. Each vacancy announcement includes specific application instructions so please read the announcement carefully.

How to Apply: https://das.iowa.gov/human-resources/state-employment/application-process-faqs

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is responsible for a wide variety of consumer protection and agriculture promotion programs including regulating meat processing, commercial feed and fertilizer, and dairy production and processing. The entry level classifications utilized by IDALS are:

Agriculture Products Inspector (Animal Feed)
Annual Salary Range: $44,636.80 – $65,644.80 

Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in chemistry, biology, agricultural business, agricultural management, agronomy, agricultural mechanization, animal science, or a related agricultural field. OR Two years of full-time work experience as an inspector, farm operator, warehouse or production worker or manager, licensed pesticide applicator, or in sales which included direct involvement with the storage, manufacture, regulation, use or demonstration of feed, medicated fee, fertilizer, seed, or pesticide.

Dairy Products Inspector (Milk and Dairy)
Annual Salary Range: $40,518.40 – $59,779.20 

Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from high school (or GED equivalent), and experience equal to four years of full-time work in a dairy products processing plant as a production supervisor, pasteurization equipment operator, production worker, quality control inspector, or in other work related to the processing or manufacturing of milk or milk products; OR A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in dairy or food science technology or bacteriology equals one year of full-time experience.

Meat Inspector (Meat Processing)
Annual Salary Range: $38,771.20 – $57,012.80 

Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from high school or possession of a G.E.D., and thirty semester hours of college or university course work which included at least six semester hours in any of the following major areas: veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, animal science, agricultural business, livestock management, zoology, biology or a closely related major;  OR the equivalent combination of education and experience substituting two years of experience in livestock or poultry slaughter, processing, or marketing for one year of the required education; OR one year of experience in meat and poultry inspection in an establishment covered by the Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection Act or a similarly legislated state meat and poultry inspection program, may be substituted for one year of the required education. 

Special Requirements:  USDA courses in slaughtering and processing must be completed before inspection duties begin. The USDA poultry course must also be completed during the first year of employment.

Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals

The Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals (IDIA) regulates manufactured food plants, retail food facilities and bottled water plants. The entry level classification utilized by IDIA is:

Environmental Specialist
Annual Salary Range: $49,899.20 – $75,649.60

Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in a natural science; OR an equivalent combination of experience and education substituting one year of full-time professional work in an environmental, radiation control, environmental health or food sanitation program for each year (30 semester hours) of the required education.