Agricultural Products Graders and Sorters

Career summary

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Agricultural products graders and sorters organize products by traits such as size, weight, appearance, and color. They may weigh fruits and vegetables on scales to help determine their grade. They may use microscopes to analyze the small fibers of textiles, such as cotton.

Graders and sorters group the very best products together, the second-best products together, and so on. They grade these groups and place a sticker or tag on the products to show their quality grades. They may also record these grades on a sales sheet or shipping and receiving form.

Graders and sorters make sure that only certain grades of products reach the public. They pick out and discard products that are damaged or otherwise unacceptable so they will not be sold to the public. Manufacturers often sell different grades of the same product to the public.

Related careers

This career is part of the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Agricultural Inspectors
• Commercial Fishers
• Log Graders and Scalers
• Mail Clerks
• Meat Cutters
• Packers and Packagers
• Quality Control Inspectors
• Sewing Machine Operators
• Stock Clerks

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to agricultural products graders and sorters.

• Judge the quality of products, such as food and textiles.
• Sort products by traits such as size, color, weight, and appearance.
• Pick out and discard damaged or unattractive products. Depending on the product, they may not be sold to the public.
• Record product grade on tags, shipping forms, or sales sheets.

Common work activities

Agricultural products graders and sorters perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Handle and move objects
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Get information needed to do the job
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Process information
• Evaluate information against standards
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, agricultural products graders and sorters:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have very low levels of social interaction. Graders and sorters usually work alone. When they do speak to others, they do so face-to-face.
• Often work as part of a group or team.

Physical work conditions

• Almost always work indoors while inspecting products. Work sites may not have heating or air conditioning.
• Work physically near other graders and sorters.

Work performance

• Must be accurate and thorough in their work.
• Repeat the same physical activities.
• Work at a pace set by machinery, such as conveyor belts carrying products.
• Make some decisions independently, but usually take direction from supervisors.

Hours/travel

• May work longer hours during harvest time and shorter hours the rest of the year.
• May work overtime to meet production goals.
• May work evenings, nights, or weekends.

Physical demands

Agricultural products graders and sorters frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for agricultural products graders and sorters to be able to:

• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for agricultural products graders and sorters to be able to:

• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.

Skills and abilities

Agricultural products graders and sorters need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.

Reason and problem solve

• Develop rules that group items in various ways.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study to consider

• Agricultural Business and Management

Training

To work as an agricultural products grader or sorter, you typically need to:

• complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required for this job. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

On-the-job training

Sorters and graders usually receive informal training on the job from experienced workers. On the job, you learn to grade and sort produce as well as test samples. Training may last one to four weeks. After training, you may be closely supervised by another worker for a short time.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Agricultural Production
• Agronomy
• Computer Fundamentals
• Food and Nutrition
• Plant and Soil Science

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers look for product graders and sorters who are quick and accurate in their work. They look for people who have a good eye for detail. Employers may also look for graders and sorters who can work long hours during harvest seasons.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Wages vary by employer, area of the country, and the grader's level of skill.

Graders and sorters who work full time may receive benefits. Common benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Grocery stores
• Wholesale grocery sales companies
• Agricultural and food products companies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is slowly declining. More grading and sorting jobs can be done by machines. In addition, an increasing amount of agricultural products are imported from other countries. These items are graded and sorted before they are shipped here. These factors will lead to fewer new jobs in this occupation.

Other resources

Washington Business Week 
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

References

Career cluster

• Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products (45-2041.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 1 - Little or no preparation needed. No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Chick Grader (411.687-010) 
• Chick Sexer (411.687-014) 
• Clam Sorter (446.687-010) 
• Cotton Classer (429.387-010) 
• Cotton Classer Aide (429.587-010) 
• Egg Candler (529.687-074) 
• Fish Roe Technician (522.384-010) 
• Inspector-grader, Agricultural Establishment (409.687-010) 
• Sorter, Agricultural Produce (529.687-186) 
• Wool Sorter (589.387-014) 
• Wool-fleece Grader (589.687-054) 
• Wool-fleece Sorter (410.687-026) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Conventional/Investigative

COPSystem

• Outdoor