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Testers and graders, food and beverage processing (NOC 9465)

Table of contents
About this job Earnings and Outlook Duties Work environment Workforce and employment statistics
Job requirements Work-related skills Related careers Career paths and resources
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About this job

Testers and graders in this unit group:

  • test or grade ingredients and finished food, beverage or associated products to make sure company standards are met
  • work in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, fish plants, meat plants, breweries and other food, beverage and associated products processing plants
Common job titles
  • inspector, kosher inspector / mashgiach
  • tester, agricultural
  • tester, bakery products
  • tester, food packaging
  • tester, meat products
  • tester, poultry products
  • inspector, kosher inspector / mashgiach
  • tester, agricultural
  • tester, bakery products
  • tester, beverages
  • tester, confectionery
  • tester, dairy products

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$41,712

Source: 2020 Job Bank Wage data

Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2020 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))

Provincial hourly rate

  • High
  • Median
  • Low

Source: 2020 Job Bank Wage Report

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2021-2031)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

  • 2021 - 2026
  • 2026 - 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 230

  • 2022
  • 2026
  • 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
30.4%
70 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
69.6%
160 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Select a region to view regional outlook
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
Cariboo
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Kootenay
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2021:
470
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
0.8%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
150
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2021:
40
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
-1.6%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
10
Northeast
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2021:
70
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.5%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
30
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2021:
50
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
3.9%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
40

N/A - Data not available

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Testers and graders in this unit group 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 make sure company standards are met
  • do 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
  • make sure hygiene and sanitation practices follow policies and regulations
  • tell supervisors about ingredient or product deficiencies

Work environment

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in a regular controlled indoor environment.
  • Workers may be exposed to strong or toxic odours.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

500 workers are employed
50% of workers are working mostly full time

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by gender

  Men
  Women

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by age group

  15 - 24 years
  25 - 44 years
  45 - 64 years
  65+ years

Source: 2016 Census

Labour force by industry

Manufacturing:
68%
Wholesale Trade:
17%
Retail Trade:
6%
Accommodation and Food Services:
4%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:
3%
View more industry data

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by region

Select your region:
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
  % employment of this occupation
  % employment of all occupations
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland / Southwest
North Coast & Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island / Coast

Source: 2016 Census

Career paths and resources

Career paths

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

There is little movement among the various types of testers and graders in this group.

Additional resources

Additional resources are not currently available for this career.

Profile last updated:
March 25, 2021
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