Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders
Occupation · NOC 2021 94123 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 94123
- TEER
- 4
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 19
- Median wage, Canada
- C$27.50 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 66
OC<CANLUMBER<GRADERS<AND<OTHER<WOOD<PROCESSI 941239<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8
About this occupation
Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders inspect and grade lumber, shingles, veneer, waferboard and similar wood products to identify defects, ensure conformance to company specifications and classify products according to industry standards. They are employed by sawmills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing companies.
Example job titles
- grader - wood processing
- grader tallyman/woman - wood processing
- lumber grader
- particleboard grader - wood processing
- plywood grader
- plywood inspector
- veneer grader
- wood measurer
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Lumber graders
- Examine lumber visually for knots, holes, splits and other defects and sort for further drying, trimming or remanufacturing
- Measure lumber using callipers, gauges and tape measures to ensure specified thickness, length and width
- Classify and sort lumber according to industry standards and stamp lumber to indicate grade, wood type, moisture level and other characteristics
- Tally lumber
- Complete and maintain reports.
- Other wood processing inspectors and graders
- Inspect plywood panels, veneer sheets, panelboards, shingles and similar wood products visually for knots, holes, splits, straightness and other defects
- Mark defects and sort for repair or reprocessing
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- On-the-job training and up to two weeks of classroom training are provided for lumber graders.
- Previous experience as a sawmill machine operator, other wood processing operator or as a labourer in wood processing is usually required for graders and inspectors in this unit group.
- Lumber graders require a lumber grader's licence issued by a provincial lumber association.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
- Prolam Société en commandite5
- Simon Lussier Ltée3
- 2639-1862 Québec INC2
- AMEX BOIS FRANC INC.2
- Grove Cedar Limited2
- Bois Weedon Inc.1
- Groupe Lebel inc.1
- Delta Cedar Saw Mill LP1
- Les Planchers des Appalaches Lté1
- CREEKSIDE FOREST PRODUCTS LTD.1
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 35 | 0 |
| 2016 | 10 | 0 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 35 |
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$20.00 | C$27.50 | C$38.00 |
| Alberta | C$27.00 | C$34.92 | C$44.33 |
| British Columbia | C$22.00 | C$29.00 | C$38.00 |
| New Brunswick | C$19.54 | C$24.08 | C$25.86 |
| Ontario | C$20.03 | C$24.78 | C$31.33 |
| Quebec | C$18.96 | C$25.00 | C$33.75 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 66
- Vacancies advertised
- 87
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$25.00
Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more