Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
Grade, sort, or classify unprocessed food and other agricultural products by size, weight, color, or condition.
Sample of reported job titles:
Agriculture Laborer, Apple Sorter, Corn Lab Technician, Distribution Technician, Egg Grader, Egg Worker, Grader, Potato Grader, Potato Sorter, Sorter
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Tasks
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Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers.
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Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel.
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Discard inferior or defective products or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing.
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Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage.
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Record grade or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving, or sales sheets.
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Separate fiber tufts between fingers to assess strength, uniformity, and cohesive quality of fibers.
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Technology Skills
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Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook
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Office suite software — Microsoft Office
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Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
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Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
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Web platform development software — Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
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Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technologies are requirements frequently included in employer job postings.
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Work Activities
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Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
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Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
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Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
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Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
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Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
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Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
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Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
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Detailed Work Activities
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Package agricultural products for shipment or further processing.
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Mark agricultural or forestry products for identification.
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Measure physical characteristics of forestry or agricultural products.
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Sort forestry or agricultural materials.
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Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.
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Evaluate quality of plants or crops.
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Work Context
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Spend Time Standing — 79% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
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Face-to-Face Discussions — 65% responded “Every day.”
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Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 72% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
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Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 73% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
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Physical Proximity — 49% responded “Very close (near touching).”
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Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 81% responded “Every day.”
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Time Pressure — 60% responded “Every day.”
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Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 76% responded “Every day.”
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Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment — 49% responded “Extremely important.”
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Work With Work Group or Team — 34% responded “Very important.”
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Contact With Others — 41% responded “Contact with others most of the time.”
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Duration of Typical Work Week — 43% responded “More than 40 hours.”
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Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 33% responded “Extremely important.”
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Frequency of Decision Making — 35% responded “Every day.”
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Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 43% responded “Moderate results.”
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Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 36% responded “Limited responsibility.”
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Job Zone
- Title
- Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
- Education
- Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
- Related Experience
- Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
- Job Training
- Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
- Job Zone Examples
- These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, sewing machine operators, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
- SVP Range
- Up to 3 months of preparation (Below 4.0)
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Training & Credentials
- State training
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- Local training
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- Certifications
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- State licenses
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- Apprenticeships
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Have a career path or location in mind? Visit Apprenticeship.gov
to find apprenticeship opportunities near you.
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Skills
No skills met the minimum score.
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Knowledge
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Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
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English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
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Abilities
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Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
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Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
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Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Interests
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Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
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Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
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Work Values
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Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
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Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
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Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
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Work Styles
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Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
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Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
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Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
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Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
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Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
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Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
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Wages & Employment Trends
- Median wages (2021)
- $14.25 hourly, $29,630 annual
- State wages
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- Local wages
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- Employment (2020)
- 32,500 employees
- Projected growth (2020-2030)
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Decline (-1% or lower)
- Projected job openings (2020-2030)
- 4,700
- State trends
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- Top industries (2020)
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 wage data
and 2020-2030 employment projections
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“Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2020-2030). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.
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Job Openings on the Web
- State job openings
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- Local job openings
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