person, wearing a toque and a plastic raincoat, standing in front of a rack of hanging fish

Fish and seafood plant workers

(NOC 94142)
Annual Earnings
$39,626
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
High School Diploma
Job Openings
(2024-2034)
510

Career Overview

This group includes fish and seafood plant machine operators who set up and operate machinery to process and package fish and seafood products, and fish and seafood plant cutters and cleaners who cut, trim and clean fish or seafood by hand. These workers:

  • Work in fish and seafood processing plants

 

Job Titles

Basket filter tender - fish and seafood processing
Can filler - fish and seafood processing
Can-filling machine operator - fish processing
Centrifuge machine tender - fish processing
Clam shucker - fish and seafood processing
Clam-shucking machine tender - fish and seafood processing
Clam steamer - fish and seafood processing
Crab butcher - fish and seafood processing
Crab steamer - fish and seafood processing
Fillet chopper - fish processing
Filleting machine operator - fish processing
Filleting machine setter - fish processing
Filling machine operator - fish and seafood products
Fish boner - fish processing
Fish broiler - fish processing
Fish by-products processor
Fish cake former - fish processing
Fish cake maker
Fish cake maker - fish processing
Fish cake processor - fish processing
Fish canning machine operator - fish processing
Fish cleaner and cutter - fish processing
Fish-cleaning machine tender - fish processing
Fish cook - fish processing
Fish curer - fish processing
Fish cutter - fish processing
Fish cutting machine operator - fish processing
Fish cutting machine setter - fish processing
Fish dresser - fish processing
Fish dryer and grinder tender - fish processing
Fish dryer tender - fish processing
Fish egg processor - fish processing
Fish flaker - fish processing
Fish fryer - fish processing
Fish header - fish processing
Fish offal processor - fish processing
Fish oil extractor tender - fish processing
Fish paste grinder - fish processing
Fish plant machine operator - fish processing
Fish plant worker
Fish presser operator - fish processing
Fish-processing machine operator
Fish-processing machine tender
Fish-processing plant worker
Fish processor
Fish products maker - fish processing
Fish skinner operator - fish processing
Fish-skinning machine operator - fish processing
Fish smoke chamber tender - fish processing
Fish smoker - fish processing
Fish splitter - fish processing
Fish stick machine tender - fish processing
Fish trimmer - fish processing
Frozen fish cutter - fish processing
Hand shellfish processor - fish and seafood processing
Lobster processor - fish processing
Machine operator - fish processing
Oyster canner - fish processing
Oyster packer - fish processing
Oyster shucker - fish processing
Oyster washer tender - fish processing
Scallop shucker - fish and seafood processing
Seafood preparer - fish and seafood processing
Shellfish-processing machine tender
Shellfish processor
Shellfish separator tender - fish and seafood processing
Shellfish shucker
Shellfish shucker - fish and seafood processing
Shrimp peeler - fish and seafood processing
Shrimp peeler tender - fish and seafood processing
Shrimp processor - fish and seafood processing
Shucker - fish and seafood processing
Skinner operator - fish processing
Skinning machine setter - fish processing
Trimmer - fish processing

Duties

Fish plant machine operators:

  • Set up and operate machines to clean, cut, cook, smoke, brine, dehydrate or otherwise process fish products
  • Set up and operate machines to can, bag, box or otherwise package fish products
  • Check products and packaging for defects and compliance to company standards
  • Adjust machine as needed
  • Record production information such as quantity, weight, date and type of products packaged

Fish plant cutters and cleaners:

  • Cut, clean and trim fish prior to marketing or further processing
  • Scrape away scales, cut fish, separate fillets and remove scrap parts using knife
  • Check fish fillets to decide the best number and size of fillet sections
  • Cut sections accordingly and place in container for weighing
  • Disjoint and remove meat from lobsters or other shellfish in preparation for canning or further processing

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$39,626

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$24.00/hr
Median$19.00/hr
Low$17.40/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2024 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

755

% Employed Full Time

42%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in a regular controlled indoor environment
  • Workers may be exposed to infectious bacteria and viruses when handling fish and shellfish
  • Working with equipment, instruments, machinery or power/hand tools can be a source of injury
  • The workplace may be noisy enough to cause distraction or hearing loss
  • Workers may be exposed to strong or toxic odours
  • Work involves contact with water

 

Career Pathways

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Education, Training and Skills

  • Some secondary school education may be required
  • On-the-job training is required

 

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Academic/Basic Upgrading
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

49%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

47%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

45%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

44%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

42%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

38%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

38%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

37%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

36%
Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.

36%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

755
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 0 0.0%
Kootenay 0 0.0%
Mainland/Southwest 450 59.6%
North Coast and Nechako 25 3.3%
Northeast 0 0.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 10 1.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 260 34.4%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)

510
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo Not available Not available
Kootenay Not available Not available
Mainland/Southwest 380 2.3%
North Coast and Nechako 10 -0.8%
Northeast Not available Not available
Thompson-Okanagan Not available Not available
Vancouver Island/Coast 120 0.7%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2024-2034)
Manufacturing400
Agriculture and Fishing70
Wholesale Trade40
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.