Machine operators and related workers in food, beverage and associated products processing

How to become a process control and machine operator

Official title: Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing

Also called: Machine pie maker, Brewhouse operator, Fermenter operator, Nut mixer operator, Soya mill operator, Cocoa mill operator, Machine cigar maker, Yeast room operator, Beer filter operator, Pasteurizer operator, Bread slicer operator, Conche machine tender

Process control and machine operators in food and beverage processing operate multi-function process control machinery and single-function machines to process and package food and beverage products. They are employed in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, meat plants, breweries, and other food and beverage processing establishments.

Main tasks

Process control operators
Operate multi-function process control machinery through control panels, computer terminals or other control systems to grind, extract, mix, blend, cook or otherwise process food products and to bag, box or otherwise package food products
Operate multi-function process control machinery to grind, extract, mix, blend, distill, ferment or otherwise process alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages and to bottle, can or otherwise package beverages
Observe gauges, computer printouts and video monitors to verify specified processing conditions and make adjustments to process variables such as cooking times, ingredient inputs, flow rates and temperature settings
Maintain shift log of production and other data
Machine operators
Set up and adjust food or beverage processing and packaging machines
Operate single-function machines to grind, extract, mix, blend, dry, freeze, cook or otherwise process food or beverage products

How to become one

Completion of secondary school may be required. On-the-job training is provided. Experience as a machine operator in food or beverage processing is usually required for industrial process control operators. Experience as a labourer in food or beverage processing may be required for machine operators.

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Pay · Outlook

Median pay: $43,875 a year The middle half earn $38,220 to $52,650.
About 66,300 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 73,300 are projected by 2033. (+10.6%)
Projected labour market to 2033: balance.

Questions people ask

How do I become a process control and machine operator?

How much does a process control and machine operator earn in Canada?

Median full-time pay is $43,875 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $38,220 to $52,650.

Is a process control and machine operator a growing career in Canada?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2033, from about 66,300 to about 73,300 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).

Do you need a degree to become a process control and machine operator?

Usually not. Only 17% 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