Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products fall under the Farming, Fishing, and Forestry category in the U.S. occupational classification. Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products earn a median salary of $35,430 per year, ranking in the top 95% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -5.4% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do graders and sorters, agricultural products earn?

The median annual wage for graders and sorters, agricultural products is $35,430. That puts graders and sorters, agricultural products at #766 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is graders and sorters, agricultural products a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for graders and sorters, agricultural products is -5.4%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 38K positions in 2024 to 36K in 2034, a net change of -2K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do graders and sorters, agricultural products do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working graders and sorters, agricultural products, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel.
2. 2.Discard inferior or defective products or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing.
3. 3.Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers.
4. 4.Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage.

Top skills for graders and sorters, agricultural products

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become graders and sorters, agricultural product?

Many graders and sorters, agricultural products enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
  $59,330 median
• Fallers
  $53,900 median
• Animal Breeders
  $52,000 median
• Logging Workers, All Other
  $52,000 median
• Agricultural Inspectors
  $50,990 median
• Logging Equipment Operators
  $49,210 median

Common questions parents ask about graders and sorters, agricultural products