Farming, Fishing & Forestry
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
Also called: Agriculture Laborer, Apple Sorter, Corn Lab Technician, Distribution Technician
US median pay
$35,730
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-3.4%
declining
Openings a year (US)
5,800
45,400 employed
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Grade, sort, or classify unprocessed food and other agricultural products by size, weight, color, or condition.
What they do day to day
- Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers.
- Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel.
- Discard inferior or defective products or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing.
- Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage.
- Record grade or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving, or sales sheets.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Coordination2.5/5
- Time Management2.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.1/5
- Systems Analysis1.9/5
- Service Orientation1.9/5
- Quality Control Analysis1.9/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing3.6/5
- English Language3.0/5
- Mechanical3.0/5
- Food Production2.8/5
- Education and Training2.7/5
- Foreign Language2.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): No formal educational credential.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Less than high school64%
- High school diploma27%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.