Testers and Graders in Food and Beverage Processing

(NOC 9465)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

Workers in this group test or grade ingredients and finished food or beverage products to ensure conformance to company standards. They are employed in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, fish plants, meat plants, breweries and other food and beverage processing and packaging plants.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
Estimate openings due to growth and retirements not available for this occupation.
Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Estimate Weak growth employment change, 2017-2019
Estimate 1275 openings due to growth and retirements, 2017-2019
Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2016

This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Testers and Graders in Food, Beverage, and Associated Products Processing most commonly work full-time hours. Also, a fair portion of the workforce is self-employed, so having the option to "work for yourself" may appeal to some individuals’ interests/motivations.

The median employment income for 22% of Testers and Graders in Food, Beverage, and Associated Products Processing who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $49,355. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)

Hourly Pay

$11.75

Minimum

$15.06

Median

$20.10

Maximum

Annual Pay

$7,357

Minimum

$18,320

Median

$56,213

Maximum

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Hourly Pay

$12.00

Minimum

$18.75

Median

$30.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,056

Minimum

$30,111

Median

$70,518

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Job duties

Testers and graders perform some or all of the following duties:

Take samples of products at various stages of processing.
Examine ingredients or finished products by sight, touch, taste and smell or weigh materials to ensure conformance to company standards.
Conduct routine tests for product specifications such as colour, alcohol content, carbonation, moisture content, temperature, fat content and packaging.
Grade or sort raw materials or finished products.
Ensure hygiene and sanitation practices conform to policies and regulations.
Advise supervisors of ingredient or product deficiencies.

Sample job titles

beverage inspector
food and beverage processing grader
meat grader
process control checker - food and beverage processing
produce grader - food and beverage processing
product tester - food and beverage processing
wine tester

Skills

To work in these jobs, you should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and a mechanical aptitude are important. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

Completion of high school may be required.
On-the-job training is usually provided.

Other considerations

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

170

employed in 2016

79.6%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

55.1%

44.9%

49.1

median age

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

15,275

employed in 2016

86.6%

employed full-time

3.1%

self employed

27.6%

72.4%

44.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

30.6%

Southern

24.5%

Annapolis Valley

22.4%

Cape Breton

16.3%

Northern

8.2%

Halifax

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

Northern

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

70.6%

Food and Beverage Product Manufacturing

17.6%

Wholesale Trade

5.9%

Other Industries

5.9%

Agriculture

What is the age of Employment?

30.4%

55-64

28.3%

45-54

15.2%

35-44

15.2%

65+

6.5%

25-34

6.5%

15-24

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

41.6%

45-54

28.6%

55-64

20.8%

35-44

5.2%

25-34

2.6%

15-24

Top levels of education

26.5%

High school

$13,601 median annual income

22.4%

College certificate or diploma

$19,799 median annual income

20.4%

Trades certificate

$15,798 median annual income

14.3%

Less than high school

$9,674 median annual income

12.2%

Bachelor's degree

N/A

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

38.1%

High school

$28,358 median annual income

22.9%

Less than high school

$21,011 median annual income

20.3%

College certificate or diploma

$36,968 median annual income

12.4%

Trades certificate

$37,356 median annual income

4.4%

Bachelor's degree

$36,852 median annual income

Education & training

Adult high school/secondary diploma programs

This program is typically offered at the high school level.

This instructional program class comprises any program that defines the prescribed requirements, specified by the appropriate jurisdiction, for the completion of and graduation from a secondary school program of academic subject matter offered for adult learners outside of the regular secondary school program. This does not include adult compensatory education programs resulting in completion of a high school equivalency certificate or diploma.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Siège Social: 1695, Route 1

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS B0W 1M0

(902) 769-2114

Blanche.Theriault@usainteanne.ca

Website

Nova Scotia Community College - Annapolis Valley Campus

50 Elliott Road

Lawrencetown, NS B0S 1M0

(902) 825-3491

avc.info@nscc.ca