The average hourly rate a food and drug inspector was $12.22 in 2000. Those in the middle earned between $9.26 and $16.55 an hour. Those in the lowest earned less than $7.33 an hour. The highest earned more than $22.21 an hour. So assuming you work 40 hours a week, for 48 weeks of the year, it's about (before taxes) $18,000 and $43,000.