94123 – Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders

Lead statement

Lumber graders inspect and grade lumber to identify defects, to ensure that the lumber conforms to company specifications, and to classify lumber according to industry standards.

Main duties

• Examine lumber visually for knots, holes, splits and other defects and sort for further drying, trimming or remanufacturing
• Measure lumber using callipers, gauges and tape measures to ensure specified thickness, length and width
• Classify and sort lumber according to industry standards and stamp lumber to indicate grade, wood type, moisture level and other characteristics
• Tally lumber
• Complete and maintain reports.
• Inspect plywood panels, veneer sheets, panelboards, shingles and similar wood products visually for knots, holes, splits, straightness and other defects
• Mark defects and sort for repair or reprocessing
• Measure wood products to ensure conformance to specifications using standard measuring instruments
• Grade and label wood products according to quality standards
• Complete and maintain inspection and grading reports.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• On-the-job training and up to two weeks of classroom training are provided for lumber graders.
• Previous experience as a sawmill machine operator, other wood processing operator or as a labourer in wood processing is usually required for graders and inspectors in this unit group.
• Lumber graders require a lumber grader's licence issued by a provincial lumber association.

Example job titles

lumber grader · green lumber grader · lumber inspector · lumber marker · wood processing inspector · plywood grader · plywood grader - wood processing · plywood inspector · plywood inspector - wood processing · wood processing grader

Wages (per hour)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.