9461-NOC

Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing

(NOC 94140)
Annual Earnings
$39,105
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
High School Diploma
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
2,210

Career Overview

Process control and machine operators:

  • Run multi-function process control machinery or single-function machines to process and package food, beverage and associated products
  • Work in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, meat plants, breweries leaf tobacco products plants and other food, beverage and associated products processing establishments

Duties

Process control operators in this group:

  • Operate multi-function process control machinery through control panels, computer terminals or other control systems to grind, extract, mix, blend, cook or otherwise process food products and to bag, box or otherwise package food products
  • Run multi-function process control machinery to grind, extract, mix, blend, distill, ferment or otherwise process alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages and to bottle, can or otherwise package beverages
  • Look at gauges, computer printouts and video monitors to verify specified processing conditions and make adjustments to process variables such as cooking times, ingredient inputs, flow rates and temperature settings
  • Maintain shift log of production and other data

Machine operators in this group:

  • Set up and adjust processing and packaging machines preparatory to operation
  • Operate single-function machines to grind, extract, mix, blend, freeze, cook or otherwise process food or beverage products and to box, can or otherwise package food or beverage products
  • Check products for defects and compliance to company standards and adjust machine as necessary
  • Record production information such as quantity, weight, size, date and type of products packaged
  • Perform corrective machine adjustements, clean machines and immediate work areas

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$39,105

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$28.11/hr
Median$18.75/hr
Low$16.75/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

4,935

% Employed Full Time

64%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in a regular controlled indoor environment
  • Working with equipment, instruments, machinery or power/hand tools can be a source of injury
  • Workers may be exposed to steam or intensely hot surfaces that can be a source of injury
  • The workplace may be noisy enough to cause distraction or hearing loss
  • Workers may be exposed to strong or toxic odours

Career Pathways

There is little movement among the various types of process control operators in the food and beverage processing industry. Process control operators may progress to supervisory positions in food and beverage processing with experience.

There is movement among machine operators within the food and beverage processing industry. Machine operators may progress to process control operators or supervisory positions in food and beverage processing with experience.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Bakery machine operator - food and beverage processing
Brewhouse operator
Canning machine operator
Chocolate refiner
Cigarette machine tender
Citrus juice extractor
Control room operator - food and beverage processing
Corn sugar refinery operator
Dry foods mixer operator
Dryer tender - tobacco processing
Fermenter operator
Fruit preserver - food and beverage processing
Fryer operator - food and beverage processing
Grain-processing machine operator
Meat grinder - food and beverage processing
Pasteurizer operator - food and beverage processing
Tobacco blender
Winery-press operator

Education, Training and Skills

  • Completion of secondary school may be required
  • On-the-job training is provided
  • Experience as a machine operator in food, beverage or associated products processing is usually required for industrial process control operators
  • Experience as a labourer in food, beverage or associated products processing may be required for machine operators

 

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Academic/Basic Upgrading
EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.

62%
Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

56%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

55%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

51%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

50%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

50%
Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

48%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

48%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

47%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

47%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

4,935
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 75 1.5%
Kootenay 205 4.1%
Mainland/Southwest 3,270 66.2%
North Coast and Nechako 55 1.1%
Northeast 15 0.3%
Thompson-Okanagan 830 16.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 485 9.8%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

2,210
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 40 1.9%
Kootenay 50 0.4%
Mainland/Southwest 1,570 1.1%
North Coast and Nechako 10 -0.4%
Northeast Not available Not available
Thompson-Okanagan 340 0.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 200 1.0%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Manufacturing1,780
Wholesale Trade130
Accommodation And Food Services100
Transportation And Warehousing60
Retail Trade40
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.