Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
SOC 45-2041 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products is $34,360, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $34,880, and an estimated 23,430 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +21.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +3.4% after inflation. BLS projects employment will shrink 5.4% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $34,360 | $34,360 | 23,430 |
| 2022 | $32,550 | $33,890 | 23,280 |
| 2021 | $29,630 | $33,319 | 25,560 |
| 2020 | $28,220 | $33,224 | 28,640 |
Nominal change
+21.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+3.4%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-5.4%
Declining
Employment 2024
38,900
Projected 2034
36,800
Annual Openings
5,100
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $34,360. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $49,990 | +45.5% | 50 |
| Maine | $44,810 | +30.4% | — |
| Kansas | $43,570 | +26.8% | 220 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $43,570 | +26.8% | 160 |
| Nebraska | $43,150 | +25.6% | 150 |
| Indiana | $41,700 | +21.4% | 30 |
| North Dakota | $40,830 | +18.8% | 180 |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $39,970 | +16.3% | 160 |
| Maryland | $39,790 | +15.8% | 230 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $38,270 | +11.4% | 410 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$28,400
25th Pct
$32,240
Median
$34,360
75th Pct
$37,020
90th Pct
$42,090
Related Occupations in Farming, Fishing & Forestry
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Farming, Fishing & Forestry occupations →