All careers › Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
Grader (agricultural products): pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $29,580lowest 10% earn less
- $34,32025th percentile
- $35,730median
- $38,26075th percentile
- $44,490top 10% earn more
Graders and sorters of agricultural products had a median pay of $35,730 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects the number of jobs to fall 3.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- -3.4%[2]
- Openings per year
- 5,800[5]
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential[6]
How much do agricultural graders make?
The median wage for graders and sorters of agricultural products was $35,730 a year, or $17.18 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $36,430 a year, or $17.51 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $29,580 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $44,490[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3][9] | $29,580 | $14.22 |
| 25th percentile[3][9] | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Median[1] | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| 75th percentile[3][9] | $38,260 | $18.39 |
| 90th percentile[3][9] | $44,490 | $21.39 |
These figures cover full-time and part-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses outside production or the cost of benefits[10]. About 25,180 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].
Pay by state and city
Colorado had the highest state median at $48,740, followed by Minnesota at $47,540 and Maine at $45,810[12]. Colorado had only 230 jobs and Minnesota 30, so these are small groups[12]. The states with the most jobs were California (5,750), Washington (2,830) and Texas (1,950)[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA had the highest median at $44,510, followed by Omaha, NE-IA at $43,430[14]. Yakima, WA had the most jobs, 1,250, with a median of $34,750[15].
Show median pay in 37 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado[12] | $48,740 | 230 |
| Minnesota | $47,540 | 30 |
| Maine | $45,810 | 40 |
| North Dakota | $45,590 | 260 |
| Nebraska | $45,560 | 330 |
| Utah | $42,710 | 100 |
| Iowa | $42,450 | 170 |
| Massachusetts | $41,770 | 40 |
| Maryland | $41,740 | 430 |
| Illinois | $41,670 | 220 |
| South Dakota | $39,900 | 380 |
| Michigan | $39,180 | 100 |
| Ohio | $38,500 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,430 | 970 |
| Kansas | $38,170 | 160 |
| New Jersey | $37,880 | n/a |
| Kentucky | $37,300 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $36,880 | 640 |
| California | $36,330 | 5,750 |
| Louisiana | $36,090 | 280 |
| Texas | $36,090 | 1,950 |
| Missouri | $35,800 | 530 |
| Georgia | $35,450 | 1,700 |
| Alabama | $35,390 | 840 |
| Arkansas | $35,310 | 1,650 |
| Washington | $34,950 | 2,830 |
| Virginia | $34,860 | 230 |
| North Carolina | $34,720 | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $34,700 | 260 |
| Oregon | $34,660 | 730 |
| South Carolina | $34,510 | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $33,250 | 110 |
| Arizona | $31,700 | 170 |
| New Mexico | $30,480 | 90 |
| Mississippi | $30,140 | 1,140 |
| Idaho | $27,680 | 600 |
| Florida | $27,470 | 880 |
How to become an agricultural grader
BLS lists the typical path like this:
- First: no formal educational credential is typically needed[6].
- Next: no work experience in a related occupation is typically needed[6].
- Then: learn the job through short-term on-the-job training[6].
In an ONET survey of 17 workers, 64% said less than a high school diploma is required and 27% said a high school diploma or equivalent[16]. ONET places the job in a group needing very little to some preparation[17].
What agricultural graders do
Graders sort and classify raw food and other farm products by size, weight, color or condition[18]. Typical tasks include:
- Putting products into containers by grade and marking the grade on each container[19].
- Weighing products, or estimating weight by sight or feel[19].
- Throwing out poor or damaged products and foreign matter[19].
- Sorting products by features such as color, length, appearance, smell and overall quality[19].
- Writing grade or identification numbers on tags or shipping and sales sheets[19].
Job titles reported by workers include egg grader, potato grader and apple sorter[20].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to fall 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 45,400 to 43,800 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[21]. BLS names technology that sorts and grades more products automatically as the reason for the decline[22].
About 5,800 openings a year are still projected[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. Each year, 6.3% of workers leave the labor force and 6.9% move to a different occupation[23].
Is it a good fit?
The job needs no formal credential and no related experience, with short-term training on the job[6]. Pay was below the all-occupations median[1][4]. The job count is projected to shrink, while openings continue to appear from people leaving[2][5]. People who are comfortable with repeated hands-on sorting and weighing tasks may find the work familiar[19].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an agricultural grader make an hour?
- The median was $17.18 an hour in May 2025[1]. The middle half earned between $16.50 and $18.39[9].
- What education do you need to be an agricultural grader?
- BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry education[6].
- How long does it take to become an agricultural grader?
- BLS lists short-term on-the-job training and no related experience[6].
- Is agricultural grading in demand?
- BLS projects employment to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, but about 5,800 openings a year are expected[2][5].
- What is the highest paying state for agricultural graders?
- Colorado, with a median of $48,740[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products in the US was $35,730 per year and $17.18 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products is projected to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 45,400 to 43,800 jobs (a change of -1,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products: 10th percentile $29,580, 25th percentile $34,320, 75th percentile $38,260, 90th percentile $44,490. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 5,800 openings for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products was $36,430 per year and $17.51 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products: 10th percentile $14.22, 25th percentile $16.50, 75th percentile $18.39, 90th percentile $21.39. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 25,180 people were employed as Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products jobs: California 5,750; Washington 2,830; Texas 1,950; Georgia 1,700; Arkansas 1,650. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products (areas with at least 100 jobs): Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $44,510; Omaha, NE-IA $43,430; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $41,350; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $39,170; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $38,890; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $38,680; Salem, OR $38,550; Salinas, CA $37,340. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products jobs: Yakima, WA 1,250 (median $34,750); Fresno, CA 950 (median $35,010); Bakersfield-Delano, CA 720 (median $35,310); Visalia, CA 540 (median $34,960); Salinas, CA 520 (median $37,340); Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA 460 (median $35,080). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 45-2041.00 survey of workers (17 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 64%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 27% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 45-2041.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 45-2041.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Agriculture Laborer, Apple Sorter, Corn Lab Technician, Distribution Technician, Egg Grader, Egg Worker, Grader, Potato Grader. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products: Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as enhanced technology will automatically sort and grade a growing number of agricultural products. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products: 6.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.