Machine operators and related workers in pulp and paper production and wood processing and manufacturing

How to become a lumber grader, other wood processing inspector or grader

Official title: Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders

Also called: Lumber grader, Lumber marker, Veneer grader, Wood measurer, Plywood grader, Lumber inspector, Plywood inspector, Green lumber grader, Wood processing grader, Grader - wood processing, Tie and timber inspector, Wood processing inspector

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.

Main tasks

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

How to become one

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.

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Ways in

Licence or registration: Lumber graders require a lumber grader's licence issued by a provincial lumber association.

Pay · Outlook

Median pay: $53,625 a year The middle half earn $47,463 to $66,398.
About 2,900 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 2,800 are projected by 2033. (-3.4%)
Projected labour market to 2033: balance.

Questions people ask

How do I become a lumber grader, other wood processing inspector or grader?

How much does a lumber grader, other wood processing inspector or grader earn in Canada?

Median full-time pay is $53,625 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $47,463 to $66,398.

Is a lumber grader, other wood processing inspector or grader a growing career in Canada?

Employment is projected to fall 3% by 2033, from about 2,900 to about 2,800 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).

Do you need a degree to become a lumber grader, other wood processing inspector or grader?

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