How to become a fish and seafood plant worker
Official title: Fish and seafood plant workers
Also called: Fish processor, Fish cake maker, Fish plant worker, Trimmer - fish processing, Fish by-products processor, Fish cook - fish processing, Fish boner - fish processing, Fish curer - fish processing, Fish fryer - fish processing, Fish-processing plant worker, Fish cutter - fish processing, Fish flaker - fish processing
Labourers in fish and seafood processing perform clean-up, packaging, material handling and other elemental activities related to fish and seafood processing. They are employed in fish and seafood processing and packaging plants.
Main tasks
- Fish and seafood plant machine operators
- Set up and operate machines to clean, cut, cook, smoke, brine, dehydrate or otherwise process fish or seafood products
- Set up and operate machines to can, bag, box or otherwise package fish and seafood products
- Check products and packaging for defects and to ensure conformance to company standards and perform corrective machine adjustments as required
- Record production information such as quantity, weight, date and type of products packaged
- Fish and seafood plant cutters and cleaners
- Cut, clean and trim fish or seafood prior to marketing or further processing
- Scrape away scales, cut fish, separate fillets and remove scrap parts using knife
How to become one
Some secondary school education may be required. On-the-job training is required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $33,638 a year The middle half earn $31,278 to $36,075.
- About 3,300 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 3,500 are projected by 2033. (+6.1%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: strong risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
- Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
- Testers and graders, food and beverage processing
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Questions people ask
How do I become a fish and seafood plant worker?
Some secondary school education may be required. On-the-job training is required.
How much does a fish and seafood plant worker earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $33,638 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $31,278 to $36,075.
Is a fish and seafood plant worker a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2033, from about 3,300 to about 3,500 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a fish and seafood plant worker?
Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03