Summary Report for:
45-2041.00 - 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 Inspector, Apple Sorter, Corn Lab Technician, Egg Worker, Grader, Laboratory Technician, Potato Grader, Potato Sorter, Sorter
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings
Tasks
All 5 displayed- Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage.
- Discard inferior or defective products or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing.
- Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel.
- Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers.
- Record grade or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving, or sales sheets.
Technology Skills
- Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
Tools Used
- Belt conveyors
- Binocular light compound microscopes
- Calipers — 12-inch aluminum Kemper calipers; 6-inch plastic calipers; Digital calipers
- Centrifugal separation equipment or parts or screens — Rotary sifters; Specific gravity separators
- Chain conveyors — Drag conveyors
- Digital cameras
- Domestic apple corer — Apple corers
- Domestic garlic press — Garlic presses
- Electronic measuring probes — Meat probes; Probes
- Electronic toploading balances — Overhead weighing systems
- Grading machines for seed or grain or dried leguminous vegetables — Deformation testers; Firmness testers; General purpose sizers; Seed graders (see all 10 examples)
- Handheld refractometers or polarimeters — Digital refractometers
- Penetrometers — Electronic penetrometers
- Pry bars — Crate openers
- Reflectometers — Optical reflectometers
- Sample holders — Diverter samplers; Peanut triers
- Sorting machines for seed or grain or dried leguminous vegetables — Color sorters; Cross belt sorters; Shape sorting machines; Weight sorting machines (see all 8 examples)
- Surface thermometers — Digital surface thermometers
- Utility knives
- Vibratory separation equipment or parts or screens — Vibrating screens
Abilities
- Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Work Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- 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 of materials.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Detailed Work Activities
- Sort forestry or agricultural materials.
- Package agricultural products for shipment or further processing.
- Measure physical characteristics of forestry or agricultural products.
- Mark agricultural or forestry products for identification.
- Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.
- Evaluate quality of plants or crops.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
Work Context
- Face-to-Face Discussions — 73% responded “Every day.”
- Physical Proximity — 49% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
- Spend Time Standing — 41% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 53% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Work With Work Group or Team — 44% responded “Very important.”
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 36% responded “Important.”
- Contact With Others — 51% responded “Constant contact with others.”
- Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled — 55% responded “Every day.”
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 39% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Freedom to Make Decisions — 26% responded “A lot of freedom.”
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 56% responded “Every day.”
- Exposed to Contaminants — 42% responded “Every day.”
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 29% responded “Extremely important.”
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 52% responded “Every day.”
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 29% responded “Every day.”
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 counter and rental clerks, dishwashers, cashiers, furniture finishers, logging equipment operators, and baristas. |
| SVP Range | (Below 4.0) |
Education
 Percentage of Respondents |
Education Level Required |
|---|---|
61   |
Less than high school diploma |
| 37 |
High school diploma or equivalent  |
| 2 |
Some college, no degree |
Interests
Interest code: RC
- 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.
- 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.
Work Styles
- Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Work Values
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Related Occupations
| 35-2021.00 | Food Preparation Workers 
Bright Outlook
|
| 35-3041.00 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant |
| 35-9011.00 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
|
| 35-9021.00 | Dishwashers
|
| 37-2011.00 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
|
| 37-2012.00 | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
|
| 39-3031.00 | Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers |
| 43-5081.03 | Stock Clerks- Stockroom, Warehouse, or Storage Yard
|
| 51-6021.00 | Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials |
| 51-6031.00 | Sewing Machine Operators |
Wages & Employment Trends
| Median wages (2016) | $10.83 hourly, $22,520 annual |
| State wages | 
|
| Employment (2014) | 53,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2014-2024) | 
Decline (-2% or lower)
|
| Projected job openings (2014-2024) | 8,500 |
| State trends | 
|
| Top industries (2014) | |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016 wage data
and 2014-2024 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
