How to become a tobacco preparer or tobacco products maker

Official title: Tobacco preparers and tobacco products makers

Also called: Cigarette maker, Cigar maker, Tobacco grader

Tobacco preparers and tobacco products makers prepare tobacco leaves and make various tobacco products.

Main tasks

• Grading cured tobacco leaves by type, quality and locality where grown
• Mixing tobacco leaves according to formula to obtain a blend of distinct flavour
• Tending vacuum containers which moisten tobacco for further processing
• Removing midribs and stalks from tobacco leaves and shredding tobacco
• Making cigars, cigarettes, snuff and other tobacco products by hand or with simple machines

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: HK$21,000 a month
• About 387,500 people in 2025, and about 403,200 projected by 2028. (+4.1%)
• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Related jobs

• Fruit, vegetable and related preservers
• Food and beverage tasters and graders
• Butchers, fishmongers and related food preparers
• Bakers, pastry-cooks and confectionery makers
• Dairy-products makers

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Questions people ask

Do you need a degree to become a tobacco preparer or tobacco products maker?

Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a tobacco preparer or tobacco products maker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026