Testers and graders, food and beverage processing
Occupation · NOC 2021 94143 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 94143
- TEER
- 4
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 181
- Median wage, Canada
- C$25.00 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 78
OC<CANTESTERS<AND<GRADERS<FOOD<AND<BEVERAGE< 941433<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6
About this occupation
Testers and graders in food and beverage processing test or grade ingredients and finished food or beverage products to ensure conformance to company standards. They are employed in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, fish plants, meat plants, breweries and other food and beverage processing plants.
Example job titles
- beef grader
- beer tester
- cheese grader
- fish grader
- milk grader
- poultry grader
- product tester - food and beverage processing
- tobacco grader
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Take samples of products at various stages of processing
- Examine ingredients or finished products by sight, touch, taste and smell or weigh materials to ensure conformance to company standards
- Conduct routine tests for product specifications such as colour, alcohol content, carbonation, moisture content, temperature, fat content and packaging
- Grade or sort raw materials or finished products
- Ensure hygiene and sanitation practices conform to policies and regulations
- Advise supervisors of ingredient or product deficiencies.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Experience as a machine operator or labourer in the food or beverage processing industry may be required.
- On-the-job training is usually provided.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 85 |
| 2024 | 41 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 15 |
- crustacés baie-trinité inc.31
- Baie Ste Anne Seafoods (2014) Inc.28
- 11656520 Canada Inc.13
- Bonduelle Inc.12
- Captain Dan's Inc.10
- Les Fruits de Mer de l'Est du Québec (1998) Ltée9
- Cape Bald Packers Ltd9
- La Crevette du Nord Atlantique Inc.7
- Montpak international7
- Silver Valley Farms Ltd6
- Aliments Nortera Inc.6
- BEACH POINT PROCESSING COMPANY6
- AAHAR FOODS INC.4
- Les Fromages Latino Inc.3
- FRUITS DE MER MADELEINE INC.3
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023 | 35 | 0 |
| 2022 | 10 | 0 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 35 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$17.00 | C$25.00 | C$34.00 |
| Alberta | C$16.75 | C$23.90 | C$31.60 |
| British Columbia | C$21.35 | C$26.56 | C$34.14 |
| Manitoba | C$16.88 | C$24.46 | C$35.51 |
| New Brunswick | C$15.65 | C$21.40 | C$25.96 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$17.88 | C$21.88 | C$25.29 |
| Nova Scotia | C$16.50 | C$21.40 | C$25.96 |
| Ontario | C$18.00 | C$24.00 | C$34.00 |
| Quebec | C$22.00 | C$25.78 | C$34.22 |
| Saskatchewan | C$18.93 | C$23.36 | C$27.91 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 78
- Vacancies advertised
- 249
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$20.40
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