Testers and graders, food and beverage processing

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, beverages
tester, confectionery
tester, dairy products
tester, fish and seafood

tester, food packaging
tester, meat products
tester, poultry products

tester, quality control
tester, sugar products
tester, tobacco products

inspector, kosher inspector / mashgiach
tester, agricultural
tester, bakery products
tester, beverages
tester, confectionery
tester, dairy products

tester, fish and seafood
tester, food packaging
tester, meat products
tester, poultry products
tester, quality control
tester, sugar products
tester, tobacco products

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$44,080

Source: 2017 Job Bank Wage data

Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2017 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: 2017 Job Bank Wage Report

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2018-2028)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

2018 - 2023
2023 - 2028

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 190

2018
2023
2028

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

New jobs due to economic growth:
26.3%
50 openings

Replacement of retiring workers:
73.7%
140 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Cariboo

Employment in 2018:

N/A

Average annual employment growth:

N/A

Expected number of job openings:

N/A

Kootenay

Employment in 2018:

N/A

Average annual employment growth:

N/A

Expected number of job openings:

N/A

Mainland / Southwest

Employment in 2018:

430

Average annual employment growth:

0.9%

Expected number of job openings:

140

North Coast & Nechako

Employment in 2018:

20

Average annual employment growth:

1.2%

Expected number of job openings:

10

Northeast

Employment in 2018:

N/A

Average annual employment growth:

N/A

Expected number of job openings:

N/A

Thompson-Okanagan

Employment in 2018:

60

Average annual employment growth:

0.5%

Expected number of job openings:

20

Vancouver Island / Coast

Employment in 2018:

40

Average annual employment growth:

0.9%

Expected number of job openings:

20

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

% employment of this occupation

% employment of all occupations

Cariboo

Kootenay

Mainland / Southwest

North Coast & Nechako

Northeast

Thompson-Okanagan

Vancouver Island / Coast

Source: 2016 Census

Job requirements

Education, training & qualifications

Completion of secondary school may be required.
Experience as a machine operator or labourer in the food, beverage and associated products processing industry may be required.
On-the-job training is usually provided.

Skills

Manual Dexterity
Detail-Oriented
Methodical
Object-Oriented
Finger Dexterity

View skills definitions

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

Academic/Basic Upgrading

For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.

Related careers

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.

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

About this job

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

Provincial hourly rate

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2018-2028)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

Job openings

Composition of job openings

Regional outlook

Duties

Work environment

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

Employment by gender

Employment by age group

Labour force by industry

Employment by region

Job requirements

Education, training & qualifications

Skills

Education programs in B.C.

Related careers

Career paths and resources