Graders and Sorters
O*NET title: Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
Grade, sort, or classify unprocessed food and other agricultural products by size, weight, color, or condition.
Also called: Agricultural Establishment Grader Inspector, Agricultural Produce Sorter, Agriculture Laborer, Apple Sorter, Apple Turner, Asparagus Buncher
Median pay
$35,730
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$29,580 – $44,490
People employed
25,180
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 2.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 3.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 4.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 5.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 6.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 7.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Graders and Sorters pay by state
Annual median pay by state (37 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What graders and sorters do
- 01Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers.
- 02Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel.
- 03Discard inferior or defective products or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing.
- 04Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage.
- 05Record grade or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving, or sales sheets.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Food Production
- Education and Training
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from graders and sorters
- Packers and Packagers, Hand85% · +2%
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers84% · +7%
- Food Batchmakers83% · +18%
- Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping83% · +30%
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders82% · +25%
Change into graders and sorters
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Packers and Packagers, Hand85% · $36,280
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers84% · $38,300
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers79% · $40,130
- Bakers78% · $37,160
- Cooks, Fast Food77% · $30,890