94143 – Testers and graders, food and beverage processing
Lead statement
Testers and graders in food and beverage processing test or grade ingredients and finished food or beverage products to ensure conformance to company standards.
Main 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 ensure conformance to company standards
- Conduct 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
- Ensure hygiene and sanitation practices conform to policies and regulations
- Advise supervisors of ingredient or product deficiencies.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Experience as a machine operator or labourer in the food or beverage processing industry may be required.
- On-the-job training is usually provided.
Example job titles
bacon grader · beef grader · beer tester · beverage and bottle inspector · beverage inspector · bread tester · brewery tester - food and beverage processing · butter grader · butterfat tester · can inspector - food and beverage processing · candy inspector · canned and bottled foods inspector · capon grader - food and beverage processing · casing grader - food and beverage processing · cheese grader · cigar grader · cigarette grader · cigarette tester · cookie and cracker tester · cream grader · dairy cream tester · dairy grader - food and beverage processing · moisture content tester - dairy products · dairy moisture tester · dairy tester - food and beverage processing · dairy product tester - food and beverage processing · feed tester - food and beverage processing · fish grader · fruit and vegetable grader - food and beverage processing · produce grader - food and beverage processing · wineries fermentation inspector · meat grader · seed corn grader · grain sampler - food and beverage processing · ham grader · hogshead inspector - tobacco processing · honey grader and blender · filter tip inspector - tobacco processing · kosher inspector - food and beverage processing · lamb grader
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $17.00 | $25.00 | $34.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $17.88 | $21.88 | $25.29 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $21.40 | $25.96 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $21.40 | $25.96 |
| Quebec | $22.00 | $25.78 | $34.22 |
| Ontario | $18.00 | $24.00 | $34.00 |
| Manitoba | $16.88 | $24.46 | $35.51 |
| Saskatchewan | $18.93 | $23.36 | $27.91 |
| Alberta | $16.75 | $23.90 | $31.60 |
| British Columbia | $21.35 | $26.56 | $34.14 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.