45 Series · SOC 45-2041
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $35,730
- Median / year
- $44,490
- Top 10% earn
- -5.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 25,180
- US workers
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products earn a median of $35,730 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $35,730, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $29,580 (10th percentile) to $44,490 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 25,180 US workers. Colorado pays the most ($48,740), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products earn a median of $35,730, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 4% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Farming, Fishing, and Forestry, it ranks #12 of 13 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 5.4% by 2033.
- $35,730
- Median annual wage
- Top 96%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #12 of 13
- in Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- 1.5×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Colorado at $48,740. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products (SOC 45-2041) pays a national median of $35,730 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $29,580 at the 10th percentile to $44,490 at the 90th, with a mean of $36,430 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 25,180 Americans work in this occupation across 37 reporting states and 71 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -5.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 5,100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 23.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Colorado pays the highest state median at $48,740, which is +36% above the national figure. The top metro is South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area at $62,930 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$35,730
per year
Median Hourly
$17.18/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$36,430
average
Employment
25,180
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$35,730 Bottom 4% higher than 4% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 45-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 13 45-series occupations with growth data, Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products sits on the slower-growing side at -5.4% growth and $35,730 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-5.4%
Declining
Annual Openings
5,100
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
23.5/100K
Injury Rate
2.2/100
Danger Index
20.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers.
- ▸ Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel.
- ▸ Discard inferior or defective products or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing.
- ▸ Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage.
- ▸ Record grade or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving, or sales sheets.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$29,580
25th Percentile
$34,320
Median
$35,730
75th Percentile
$38,260
90th Percentile
$44,490
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 37 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $48,740 | +36% above national |
| 2 | Minnesota | $47,540 | +33% above national |
| 3 | Maine | $45,810 | +28% above national |
| 4 | North Dakota | $45,590 | +28% above national |
| 5 | Nebraska | $45,560 | +28% above national |
| 6 | Utah | $42,710 | +20% above national |
| 7 | Iowa | $42,450 | +19% above national |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $41,770 | +17% above national |
| 9 | Maryland | $41,740 | +17% above national |
| 10 | Illinois | $41,670 | +17% above national |
| 11 | South Dakota | $39,900 | +12% above national |
| 12 | Michigan | $39,180 | +10% above national |
| 13 | Ohio | $38,500 | +8% above national |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $38,430 | +8% above national |
| 15 | Kansas | $38,170 | +7% above national |
| 16 | New Jersey | $37,880 | +6% above national |
| 17 | Kentucky | $37,300 | +4% above national |
| 18 | Tennessee | $36,880 | +3% above national |
| 19 | California | $36,330 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Louisiana | $36,090 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Texas | $36,090 | +1% above national |
| 22 | Missouri | $35,800 | same as national |
| 23 | Georgia | $35,450 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Alabama | $35,390 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Arkansas | $35,310 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Washington | $34,950 | 2% below national |
| 27 | Virginia | $34,860 | 2% below national |
| 28 | North Carolina | $34,720 | 3% below national |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $34,700 | 3% below national |
| 30 | Oregon | $34,660 | 3% below national |
| 31 | South Carolina | $34,510 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $33,250 | 7% below national |
| 33 | Arizona | $31,700 | 11% below national |
| 34 | New Mexico | $30,480 | 15% below national |
| 35 | Mississippi | $30,140 | 16% below national |
| 36 | Idaho | $27,680 | 23% below national |
| 37 | Florida | $27,470 | 23% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 71 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $62,930 | +76% above national |
| 2 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $55,600 | +56% above national |
| 3 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $48,740 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $48,700 | +36% above national |
| 5 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,410 | +30% above national |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,350 | +30% above national |
| 7 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,510 | +25% above national |
| 8 | Fargo, ND-MN | $44,370 | +24% above national |
| 9 | Omaha, NE-IA | $43,430 | +22% above national |
| 10 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $42,670 | +19% above national |
| 11 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $41,460 | +16% above national |
| 12 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $41,350 | +16% above national |
| 13 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $39,900 | +12% above national |
| 14 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $39,870 | +12% above national |
| 15 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $39,570 | +11% above national |
| 16 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $39,380 | +10% above national |
| 17 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $39,170 | +10% above national |
| 18 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $38,940 | +9% above national |
| 19 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $38,890 | +9% above national |
| 20 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $38,680 | +8% above national |
| 21 | Salem, OR | $38,550 | +8% above national |
| 22 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $38,260 | +7% above national |
| 23 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $37,650 | +5% above national |
| 24 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $37,360 | +5% above national |
| 25 | Salinas, CA | $37,340 | +5% above national |
| 26 | Jonesboro, AR | $37,210 | +4% above national |
| 27 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,040 | +4% above national |
| 28 | Modesto, CA | $37,000 | +4% above national |
| 29 | Yuba City, CA | $36,900 | +3% above national |
| 30 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,880 | +3% above national |
| 31 | Twin Falls, ID | $36,720 | +3% above national |
| 32 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $36,500 | +2% above national |
| 33 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $36,450 | +2% above national |
| 34 | Merced, CA | $36,420 | +2% above national |
| 35 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36,350 | +2% above national |
| 36 | Chico, CA | $36,120 | +1% above national |
| 37 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $36,000 | +1% above national |
| 38 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $35,950 | +1% above national |
| 39 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $35,730 | same as national |
| 40 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $35,720 | same as national |
| 41 | Dothan, AL | $35,600 | same as national |
| 42 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $35,470 | 1% below national |
| 43 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $35,420 | 1% below national |
| 44 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $35,360 | 1% below national |
| 45 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,310 | 1% below national |
| 46 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $35,180 | 2% below national |
| 47 | Gainesville, GA | $35,080 | 2% below national |
| 48 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $35,080 | 2% below national |
| 49 | Harrisonburg, VA | $35,060 | 2% below national |
| 50 | Fresno, CA | $35,010 | 2% below national |
| 51 | Visalia, CA | $34,960 | 2% below national |
| 52 | Yakima, WA | $34,750 | 3% below national |
| 53 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $34,680 | 3% below national |
| 54 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $34,670 | 3% below national |
| 55 | Columbia, SC | $34,510 | 3% below national |
| 56 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $34,320 | 4% below national |
| 57 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $34,100 | 5% below national |
| 58 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $34,090 | 5% below national |
| 59 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $33,990 | 5% below national |
| 60 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $33,050 | 8% below national |
| 61 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $32,520 | 9% below national |
| 62 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $31,880 | 11% below national |
| 63 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $29,650 | 17% below national |
| 64 | Baton Rouge, LA | $28,970 | 19% below national |
| 65 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $27,950 | 22% below national |
| 66 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,890 | 22% below national |
| 67 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $27,700 | 22% below national |
| 68 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $27,200 | 24% below national |
| 69 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $27,170 | 24% below national |
| 70 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $23,650 | 34% below national |
| 71 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $23,060 | 35% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 45 (farming fishing and forestry) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products make? ▼
What state pays Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products? ▼
How dangerous is being a Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products? ▼
Is Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products a good career? ▼
How does Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $38,260/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Colorado leads at $48,740/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.