How to become a Product Grader

Grades primary produce by evaluating individual items or batches against established standards and records.

Main tasks

• Evaluates individual items or batches of primary produce against established standards
• Determines the quality and grade of primary produce based on visual inspection and other relevant criteria
• Sorts and separates primary produce into different grades or categories
• Monitors and maintains the quality and condition of graded produce
• Records and maintains accurate records of grading results

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Meat Processing (AMP30622); Certificate IV in Meat Processing (AMP40222); Certificate II in Food Processing (FBP20122); Diploma of Artisan Cheesemaking (FBP50321); Certificate I in Food Processing (FBP10121)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $73,008 a year
• About 11,500 people work in this job group now, and about 11,800 are projected by 2035. (+2%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Product Examiner
• Product Tester
• Cement and Concrete Plant Worker
• Chemical Plant Worker
• Fabric and Textile Factory Worker
• Glass Processing Worker

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a Product Grader?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Meat Processing; Certificate IV in Meat Processing.

How much does a Product Grader earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $73,008 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Product Grader a growing career in Australia?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 11,500 people now and 11,800 later (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Product Grader?

Usually not. Only 16% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Meat Processing; Certificate IV in Meat Processing.

Will AI change the work of a Product Grader?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04