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Grading positions are essential in various educational institutions, from schools to universities. As of October 2025, the average annual salary for a grader stands at approximately $32,225, or about $15 an hour. This compensation reflects the responsibility of ensuring accurate assessments while providing constructive feedback to students.
Grader salaries can differ significantly depending on geographic location. For instance, states with higher living costs often offer better pay. In addition, factors such as years of experience and the specific educational setting contribute to salary variations.
For those aspiring to grow in this field, seeking out higher education or additional certifications can lead to increased opportunities and potentially higher salaries. Positions such as lead grader or educational coordinator may offer enhanced pay and responsibilities.
By staying informed about salary trends and actively pursuing professional development, graders can improve their earning potential and career satisfaction.
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Let Zippi find your next grader job
The highest-paying states for graders are Alaska, Vermont, and New York. The lowest average grader salary states are Michigan, South Carolina, and Texas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $41,636 | $20.02 |
| 2 | Vermont | $39,317 | $18.90 |
| 3 | Maine | $37,677 | $18.11 |
| 4 | Indiana | $35,971 | $17.29 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $37,091 | $17.83 |
| 6 | Kansas | $31,492 | $15.14 |
| 7 | New York | $38,068 | $18.30 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $35,248 | $16.95 |
| 9 | Nevada | $30,707 | $14.76 |
| 10 | Ohio | $30,231 | $14.53 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $31,615 | $15.20 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $32,735 | $15.74 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $33,267 | $15.99 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $34,188 | $16.44 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $31,581 | $15.18 |
| 17 | Delaware | $33,283 | $16.00 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $32,800 | $15.77 |
| 19 | Maryland | $32,971 | $15.85 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $32,298 | $15.53 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $27,692 | $13.31 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $30,481 | $14.65 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $28,572 | $13.74 |
| 24 | Iowa | $30,248 | $14.54 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $27,803 | $13.37 |
| 26 | Montana | $30,694 | $14.76 |
| 27 | Oregon | $28,425 | $13.67 |
| 28 | Washington | $29,953 | $14.40 |
| 29 | Utah | $27,962 | $13.44 |
| 30 | California | $29,929 | $14.39 |
| 31 | Missouri | $26,955 | $12.96 |
| 32 | Illinois | $28,785 | $13.84 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $25,153 | $12.09 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $27,078 | $13.02 |
| 35 | Virginia | $27,510 | $13.23 |
| 36 | Arizona | $27,952 | $13.44 |
| 37 | Colorado | $28,735 | $13.81 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $24,593 | $11.82 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $27,642 | $13.29 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $25,945 | $12.47 |
| 41 | Alabama | $25,078 | $12.06 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $26,967 | $12.96 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $25,264 | $12.15 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $26,371 | $12.68 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $29,386 | $14.13 |
| 46 | Michigan | $24,970 | $12.00 |
| 47 | Georgia | $25,123 | $12.08 |
| 48 | Idaho | $23,634 | $11.36 |
| 49 | Texas | $24,333 | $11.70 |
| 50 | Florida | $22,289 | $10.72 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $23,707 | $11.40 |
The highest-paying cities for graders are South Bend, IN, New York, NY, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Bend, IN | $38,053 | $18.29 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $37,945 | $18.24 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $34,622 | $16.65 |
| 4 | Lawrence, KS | $31,780 | $15.28 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $30,907 | $14.86 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $30,586 | $14.70 |
| 7 | Yakima, WA | $29,590 | $14.23 |
| 8 | Athens, OH | $29,024 | $13.95 |
| 9 | Springfield, OR | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| 10 | Bowling Green, KY | $27,512 | $13.23 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $27,179 | $13.07 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $26,806 | $12.89 |
| 13 | Springfield, IL | $26,732 | $12.85 |
| 14 | Scranton, PA | $26,145 | $12.57 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $25,207 | $12.12 |
| 16 | Little Rock, AR | $24,955 | $12.00 |
| 17 | Livonia, MI | $24,939 | $11.99 |
| 18 | Florence, SC | $24,785 | $11.92 |
| 19 | Laredo, TX | $24,393 | $11.73 |
A grader's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $32,225 | $2,685 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
The highest paying types of graders are poultry grader, potato inspector, and potato grader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorter | $31,465 | $2,622 | $15.13 | 25,315 |
Grader salaries at Google and VMware are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average grader salary at companies like Bayer and Griffin Hospital are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $119,234 | $57.32 | |
| 2 | VMware | $104,630 | $50.30 |
| 3 | Bayer | $72,935 | $35.06 |
| 4 | Griffin Hospital | $70,967 | $34.12 |
| 5 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | $61,157 | $29.40 |
| 6 | Steel Dynamics | $51,647 | $24.83 |
| 7 | Washington State University | $50,419 | $24.24 |
| 8 | Schnitzer Steel | $50,031 | $24.05 |
| 9 | Western Digital | $48,279 | $23.21 |
| 10 | San Francisco University High School | $47,423 | $22.80 |
| 11 | Fortinet | $46,435 | $22.32 |
| 12 | CARE | $42,505 | $20.44 |
| 13 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | $41,959 | $20.17 |
| 14 | Masonite | $41,749 | $20.07 |
| 15 | Stevens Institute of Technology | $41,026 | $19.72 |
| 16 | Rudolph Foods | $39,609 | $19.04 |
| 17 | Greif | $39,121 | $18.81 |
| 18 | Albertsons | $38,163 | $18.35 |
| 19 | ATI Physical Therapy | $38,006 | $18.27 |
| 20 | Mercy Corps | $36,372 | $17.49 |
The average grader salary has risen by $10,437 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average grader earned $21,788 annually, but today, they earn $32,225 a year. That works out to a 25% change in pay for graders over the last decade.
Compare grader salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare grader salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,200 | $15.49 | +9.0% |
| 2024 | $29,300 | $14.09 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | $27,900 | $13.41 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $26,700 | $12.81 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $25,700 | $12.36 | +6.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon State University | Chemistry Grader | Corvallis, OR | 06/30/2025 | $30,679 |
| Owens Corning Inc. | Grader | Nacogdoches, TX | 06/26/2025 | $36,731 |
| Huttig | Grader/Stacker | Fruitland, ID | 06/22/2025 | $33,392 |
| Goodwill Industries of Central Florida | Textile Grader | Winter Garden, FL | 06/05/2025 | $33,392 |
| Braven | Grader | Fine, NY | 06/02/2025 | $31,305 |
| Nucor | Material Grader | Orlando, FL | 06/01/2025 | $60,000 |
| University of North Dakota | Engineering Economics Grader | Grand Forks, ND | 05/31/2025 | $31,305 |
| Primary Products Grain | Grain Grader | Lafayette, IN | 05/23/2025 | $35,020 |
| Goodwill Industries of Central Florida | Textile Grader | Apopka, FL | 05/21/2025 | $33,392 |
| Nucor Corporation | Material Grader | Opa-locka, FL | 05/15/2025 | $52,000 |
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