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The differences between sorters and graders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a grader has an average salary of $32,225, which is higher than the $31,465 average annual salary of a sorter.
The top three skills for a sorter include warehouse environment, industrial trucks and customer orders. The most important skills for a grader are discrete mathematics, lab reports, and final exams.
| Sorter | Grader | |
| Yearly salary | $31,465 | $32,225 |
| Hourly rate | $15.13 | $15.49 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 25,315 | 674 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A sorter is responsible for categorizing items after the production process. Sorters duties include utilizing factory equipment to sort products efficiently, monitor and exclude defective items, maintain a clean and organized production area, assist in loading and unloading items, perform repairs on malfunctioning equipment, and examine inventories requesting necessary supplies, and adhering to the safety protocols and regulatory procedures. Sorters must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, as well as in-depth product knowledge to classify items accordingly.
A grader or lumber grader is an individual who works at a commercial establishment grading lumber, lumber yard, or sawmill. Lumber graders work with softwood and hardwood species for the identification of their grade, dimension, and any other qualities. They are responsible for working with inspectors and mill employees to ascertain whether logs are good for lumber or pulp. Their duties also include lumber scanning and labeling. They should be equipped with skills that include attention to detail, knowledge, and hard work.
Sorters and graders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sorter | Grader | |
| Average salary | $31,465 | $32,225 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $22,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | South Bend, IN |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Steel Dynamics | |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Construction |
There are a few differences between a sorter and a grader in terms of educational background:
| Sorter | Grader | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Mathematics |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between sorters' and graders' demographics:
| Sorter | Grader | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.5% Female, 39.5% | Male, 50.1% Female, 49.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 42.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 41.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 42.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 42.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |