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 make sure they meet company standards. They work 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

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Weak growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 30 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

  • Estimate 435 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1945 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$15.68

Minimum

$20.40

Median

$22.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$7,357

Minimum

$18,320

Median

$56,213

Maximum

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Hourly Pay

$14.00

Minimum

$20.80

Median

$33.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,056

Minimum

$30,111

Median

$70,518

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Workers in this group test or grade ingredients and finished food or beverage products to make sure they meet company standards. They work 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 duties

Testers and graders:

  • Take samples of products at various stages of processing.
  • Examine ingredients or finished products by sight, touch, taste and smell or weigh materials to make sure they meet company standards.
  • Carry out routine tests for product specifications like colour, alcohol content, carbonation, moisture content, temperature, fat content and packaging.
  • Grade or sort raw materials or finished products.
  • Make sure hygiene and sanitation practices follow 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

  • You should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and mechanical skills are important. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

  • High school may be required.
  • On-the-job training is usually provided.

Other considerations

  • Movement to supervisor positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

245

employed in 2016

78.0%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

52.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
48%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
49.1

median age

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

15,275

employed in 2016

83.2%

employed full-time

3.2%

self employed

27.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
72.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

30.0%

Southern

$16,824 median annual income
24.0%

Annapolis Valley

$20,507 median annual income
22.0%

Cape Breton

$15,892 median annual income
16.0%

North Shore

$24,459 median annual income
8.0%

Halifax

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

72.7%

Manufacturing

18.2%

Wholesale trade

9.1%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

What is the age of Employment?

24.0%

55-64

24.0%

45-54

18.0%

15-24

12.0%

25-34

12.0%

35-44

8.0%

65+

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

24.5%

45-54

20.8%

55-64

19.3%

35-44

16.5%

25-34

15.0%

15-24

Top levels of education

24.0%

High school

$10,706 median annual income
22.0%

College Diploma

$17,973 median annual income
20.0%

Trade Certification

$25,510 median annual income
12.0%

Bachelor

$30,314 median annual income
12.0%

Less than high school

$12,987 median annual income

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

38.1%

High school

$28,505 median annual income
23.3%

Less than high school

$19,224 median annual income
19.9%

College Diploma

$38,781 median annual income
12.2%

Trade Certification

$43,975 median annual income
4.5%

Bachelor

$39,715 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Food & Consumer Products of Canada
Mississauga, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.