person, wearing an apron, working on a laptop in a beverage processing area

Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing

(NOC 94140)
Annual Earnings
$41,712
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
High School Diploma
Job Openings
(2024-2034)
2,190

Career Overview

Process control and machine operators:

  • Run multi-function process control machinery or single-function machines to process and package food, beverage and associated products
  • Work in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, meat plants, breweries leaf tobacco products plants and other food, beverage and associated products processing establishments

Job Titles

Applesauce processor operator
Assistant brewer - food and beverage processing
Assistant miller - food and beverage processing
Bacon curer
Bagging machine setter - food and beverage processing
Bagging machine set-up man - food and beverage processing
Bagging machine set-up man/woman - food and beverage processing
Bake-off equipment tender - food and beverage processing
Bakery machine operator - food and beverage processing
Batter and dough mixer - food and beverage processing
Beer carton packer
Beer filter operator
Beer pasteurizer
Beet pulp press tender
Beverage-canning machine operator
Blanching machine tender
Bleacher operator - food and beverage processing
Blender operator - food and beverage processing
Blender - tobacco processing
Bologna maker
Bolter operator - food and beverage processing
Bone crusher - food and beverage processing
Booker - tobacco processing
Bottling machine operator
Bottling machine operator - food and beverage processing
Box machine operator - food and beverage processing
Bread slicer operator
Bread-slicing machine operator
Breaker tank attendant - food and beverage processing
Brewer
Brewer helper - food and beverage processing
Brewery kettle tender - food and beverage processing
Brewery pumpman/woman
Brewery stillman/woman - beverage processing
Brewery worker
Brewhouse operator
Brine man/woman - food and beverage processing
Brine mixer operator - food and beverage processing
Brine tank separator tender
Brown sugar maker
Buhr mill operator - food and beverage processing
Bulk blender - tobacco processing
Bulker blender - tobacco processing
Bulk-sausage-stuffing machine operator - food and beverage processing
Butter maker
Cake mix equipment operator - food and beverage processing
Candied fruit processor
Candy centre maker
Candy-cutting machine tender
Candy maker
Candy-making machine tender
Candy puller and roller
Candy-rolling machine operator
Candy-spinning machine operator - food and beverage processing
Can-filling machine operator - food and beverage processing
Canned goods cooker
Canned milk sterilizer
Canning machine operator
Caramel equipment operator
Carbonation equipment operator - food and beverage processing
Carbonator - food and beverage processing
Cascade blender - tobacco processing
Casing machine operator - food and beverage processing
Casing machine operator - tobacco processing
Casing machine tender - tobacco processing
Catsup maker
Centrifugal station tender - food and beverage processing
Cereal baker - food and beverage processing
Cereal cleaner
Cereal-cleaning equipment operator
Cereal-coating operator
Cereal cooker and extruder operator
Cereal maker - food and beverage processing
Cereal oven tender
Char filter tender - food and beverage processing
Char kiln tender - food and beverage processing
Cheese blender - food and beverage processing
Cheese cooker
Cheese grater
Cheese maker
Chewing-gum machine tender
Chicle centrifuge operator - food and beverage processing
Chocolate chips maker
Chocolate coater - food and beverage processing
Chocolate crumbs maker
Chocolate machine moulder
Chocolate refiner
Chocolate temperer
Chub sausage machine tender
Cider maker
Cider plant worker
Cigar buncher
Cigar bunch maker
Cigar dryer
Cigarette cork tipper
Cigarette filter machine tender
Cigarette machine tender
Cigarette maker
Cigarette maker operator
Cigarette roller
Cigarette stamper
Cigarette tipper
Cigar filler mixer and shredder
Cigar maker
Cigar patcher
Citrus juice extractor
Clarifying equipment tender - food and beverage processing
Cleaning and classifying operator - tobacco processing
Coating pan operator - food and beverage processing
Cocoa bean roaster
Cocoa bean-shelling machine tender
Cocoa butter filterer
Cocoa mill operator
Cocoa-nib grinder
Coffee blender
Coffee grinder
Coffee roaster
Conche machine tender
Cone and wafer machine tender
Cone maker - food and beverage processing
Confectionery cooker
Confection syrup maker
Console operator - food and beverage processing
Control room operator - food and beverage processing
Conveyor oven operator - food and beverage processing
Conveyor tender - tobacco processing
Cook tank operator - food and beverage processing
Cooler tender - tobacco processing
Cooling machine tender - food and beverage processing
Corn chips cooker
Corn cooker - food and beverage processing
Corn dough machine tender
Corn flakes roller - food and beverage processing
Corn germ preparer - food and beverage processing
Corn products presser - food and beverage processing
Corn products pressman/woman - food and beverage processing
Corn products starch presser
Corn products sugar crystallizer operator
Corn sugar filter operator
Corn sugar refinery operator
Corn syrup cooler and decolourizer
Corn syrup maker
Cottage cheese maker
Cracker and cookie machine operator
Cream cheese maker
Crusher operator - tobacco processing
Crushing machine tender - food and beverage processing
Crystallizer tender - food and beverage processing
Cube sugar machine tender - food and beverage processing
Curing bin tender - food and beverage processing
Custom feed miller - food and beverage processing
Custom feed preparer - food and beverage processing
Dairy plant machine operator
Dairy products specialty maker
Dextrine maker - food and beverage processing
Diffuser operator - food and beverage processing
Distilled liquors rectifier - food and beverage processing
Distilled liquors stillman/woman - food and beverage processing
Distillery cooker - food and beverage processing
Distillery grinder operator
Distillery presser
Distillery press operator
Distillery skimmer
Distillery yeast maker - food and beverage processing
Dividing machine tender - food and beverage processing
Dough-kneading machine tender
Dough maker - food and beverage processing
Dressing and sauce mixer
Dressing mixer operator - food and beverage processing
Dryer and cooler operator - tobacco processing
Dryer operator - food processing
Dryer tender - tobacco processing
Dry foods mixer operator
Drying drum tender - food and beverage processing
Drying machine operator - tobacco processing
Dry starch maker
Dry starch maker helper
Dry starch operator - food and beverage processing
Dry starch worker - food and beverage processing
Edible oil pumper - food and beverage processing
Edible oil refiner - food and beverage processing
Encapsulator - cannabis processing
Enrobing machine operator - food and beverage processing
Evaporator operator - food processing
Extract maker - food and beverage processing
Feed batch mixer - food and beverage processing
Feed miller - food and beverage processing
Feed mill production worker
Feed mixer - food and beverage processing
Fermentation process operator - food and beverage processing
Fermenter operator
Fermenter - tobacco processing
Filling machine setter - food and beverage processing
Filling machine set-up man/woman - food and beverage processing
Filter cigarette machine tender
Filter rod machine operator - tobacco products
Flaking roll tender - food and beverage processing
Flavourer - tobacco processing
Flavouring mixer - tobacco processing
Flavour maker - food and beverage processing
Flavour maker - tobacco processing
Flour blender operator - food and beverage processing
Flour miller
Flour mill machine operator
Flour purifier
Flumer - food and beverage processing
Food-colouring equipment operator
Food-flavouring equipment tender
Food-mixing machine tender
Food slicer - food and beverage processing
Freeze-dry food processor
Freezer operator - food and beverage processing
Frosting maker - food and beverage processing
Frosting mixer - food and beverage processing
Frozen-dough-baking machine tender
Frozen stick novelty maker - food and beverage processing
Fruit and vegetable machine operator
Fruit cooker - food and beverage processing
Fruit mixer - food and beverage processing
Fruit preserver - food and beverage processing
Fruit presser
Fruit press tender - food and beverage processing
Fry cook - food and beverage processing
Fryer operator - food and beverage processing
Gelatin-blending machine tender
Gelatin evaporator filter operator
Gelatin extractor tender
Gelatin powder mixer
Gelatin stock maker
Germ separator - food and beverage processing
Germ separator operator - food and beverage processing
Grain cleaner-dryer - food and beverage processing
Grain-cleaning machine operator - food and beverage processing
Grain cooker - food and beverage processing
Grain dehydrator - food and beverage processing
Grain meal processor - food and beverage processing
Grain miller
Grain mixer - food and beverage processing
Grain-processing machine operator
Grain roaster
Grain sample miller
Granulating machine tender - tobacco processing
Granulator tender - food and beverage processing
Granulator - tobacco processing
Grated cheese maker
Grist mill operator - food and beverage processing
Gum-sheeting and scoring machine operator - food and beverage processing
Ham curer
Hammer mill tender - food and beverage processing
Hand cigar maker
Hand cigar moulder
Hand cigar roller
High-speed machine operator - tobacco products
High-speed packer operator - tobacco products
Homogenizer operator - food and beverage processing
Honey-processing equipment operator
Hydrogenation operator - food and beverage processing
Ice cream decorator - food and beverage processing
Ice cream maker
Ice cream novelty maker
Icing machine operator - food and beverage processing
Icing maker - food and beverage processing
Icing mixer - food and beverage processing
Icing sugar mill tender
Ingredients scaler and dispenser - food and beverage processing
Instant coffee dryer
Instant coffee extractor operator
Instant powdered foods equipment operator
Jam processor operator
Ketchup maker
Kettleman/woman - food processing
Lard renderer - food and beverage processing
Linseed oil extractor
Liquid sugar operator
Liquor blender - food and beverage processing
Liquor gallery tender - food and beverage processing
Locker plant attendant - food and beverage processing
Lollipop maker
Lump maker - tobacco processing
Lump roller - tobacco processing
Lye peel tender - food and beverage processing
Macaroni press operator
Machine cigar maker
Machine operator - food and beverage processing
Machine operator - tobacco processing
Machine pie maker
Machine plug moulder - tobacco processing
Machine stripper - tobacco processing
Malt dryer tender - food and beverage processing
Malt house kiln operator - food and beverage processing
Malthouse operator - food and beverage processing
Malt roaster - food and beverage processing
Maltster - food and beverage processing
Maraschino cherry processor - food and beverage processing
Margarine blender
Margarine clarifier - food and beverage processing
Margarine processor
Marshmallow maker
Marzipan maker
Mash dryer - food and beverage processing
Mash operator - food and beverage processing
Meat canner
Meat chopper - food and beverage processing
Meat cook - food and beverage processing
Meat curer
Meat grinder - food and beverage processing
Meat mincer - food and beverage processing
Meat mincer - packaging
Meat mixer
Meat moulder - food and beverage processing
Meat pickler
Meat salter
Melter tender - food and beverage processing
Merchant miller - food and beverage processing
Milk dryer - food and beverage processing
Milk pasteurizer - food and beverage processing
Milk-processing equipment operator - food and beverage processing
Miller - food and beverage processing
Mincemeat maker
Mingler tender
Mixer - tobacco processing
Module tender - tobacco processing
Molasses mixer - food and beverage processing
Molasses wort processor
Moulding machine operator - food and beverage processing
Nut mixer operator
Nut-roasting equipment operator
Oats miller
Offal cooker - food and beverage processing
Oil clarifier tender - food and beverage processing
Packaging machine adjuster
Packaging machine operator - food processing
Packer operator - tobacco products
Packing machine set-up operator
Pantry worker - food and beverage processing
Pasta maker - food and beverage processing
Pasteurizer operator
Pasteurizer operator - food and beverage processing
Peanut-blanching machine tender - food and beverage processing
Peanut butter maker
Pet food cook - food and beverage processing
Pickleman/woman - food and beverage processing
Pickler - food and beverage processing
Pickling solution injector - food and beverage processing
Pie dough roller
Pie filling cooker
Pie filling mixer
Pie-making machine operator
Plug-cutting machine tender - tobacco processing
Plug maker - tobacco processing
Popcorn candy maker
Potato chip machine operator
Pouch line operator - food processing
Powdered milk dryer operator
Precooked sausage maker
Presser - food and beverage processing
Press operator - food and beverage processing
Press operator - tobacco processing
Pressure cooker operator - food and beverage processing
Pressurized container filler - food and beverage processing
Pretzel baker - food and beverage processing
Process cheese cooker
Process cheese formulator
Process control operator - food and beverage processing
Process operator - food and beverage processing
Puffed cereal maker
Puff gun operator - food and beverage processing
Pulper tender - food and beverage processing
Purifier operator - food and beverage processing
Redryer tender - tobacco processing
Redrying machine operator - tobacco processing
Reel oven operator - food and beverage processing
Relish maker - food and beverage processing
Retort battery cook - food and beverage processing
Retort tender - food and beverage processing
Rice miller
Rice mill worker
Roller mill tender - food and beverage processing
Roller room equipment tender - food and beverage processing
Salad dressing finisher
Sanding machine tender - food and beverage processing
Sausage dryer and smoker
Sausage maker
Sausage-peeling machine tender
Screening machine tender - food and beverage processing
Separator operator - food processing
Separator-pasteurizer - food processing
Shredder operator - tobacco processing
Shredding machine operator - food processing
Sliced cheese maker
Slicing machine operator - food and beverage processing
Slicing machine tender - food and beverage processing
Smokehouse operator - food and beverage processing
Snuff-blending machine operator - tobacco processing
Snuff can inspector
Snuff dryer - tobacco processing
Snuff grinder - tobacco processing
Soft drink powder mixer
Solvent process vegetable oil extractor
Soya mill operator
Spice fumigator - food and beverage processing
Spice miller
Spice mixer
Spinner - food and beverage processing
Sponge and dough mixer - food and beverage processing
Starch converter
Starch maker - food and beverage processing
Starch press tender
Starch separator operator
Starch washer - food and beverage processing
Steam dryer - food and beverage processing
Steamer - tobacco processing
Steam kettle operator - food and beverage processing
Steam oven operator - food and beverage processing
Steam table operator - food and beverage processing
Steepman/woman - food and beverage processing
Stem cutter - tobacco processing
Stem-flattening machine operator - tobacco processing
Stem-flattening machine tender - tobacco processing
Stemming machine operator - tobacco processing
Stem roller - tobacco processing
Sterilizer machine operator - food and beverage processing
Sterilizer operator - food and beverage processing
Still operator - brewery
Strip-cutting and blending operator - tobacco processing
Strip-cutting machine tender - tobacco processing
Stripping machine operator - tobacco processing
Stripping machine tender - tobacco processing
Sugar boiler
Sugar-processing machine operator
Syrup kettle operator
Syrup maker
Tallow extractor tender - food processing
Tallow refiner
Tankhouse operator - food and beverage processing
Tart maker - food and beverage processing
Tempering bin operator - food and beverage processing
Tipping machine tender - tobacco processing
Tobacco blender
Tobacco blending line attendant
Tobacco-blending machine operator
Tobacco casing fluid blender
Tobacco casing fluid cooker - tobacco processing
Tobacco conditioner tender
Tobacco cutter - tobacco processing
Tobacco-cutting machine tender
Tobacco-dressing machine operator - tobacco processing
Tobacco dryer - tobacco processing
Tobacco flavourer
Tobacco leaf blender
Tobacco leaf cutter
Tobacco leaf grinder
Tobacco leaf twister
Tobacco packaging machine tender
Tobacco-processing machine operator
Tobacco roller
Tobacco shredder
Tobacco stripper - tobacco processing
Tomato juice extractor
Tripe cooker - food and beverage processing
Turnip waxer - food and beverage processing
Turret machine tender - tobacco processing
Vegetable canner - food and beverage processing
Vegetable dryer tender - food and beverage processing
Vegetable grinder - food and beverage processing
Vegetable oil extractor
Vinegar maker
Votator heat exchanger tender - food and beverage processing
Weigh tank tender - food and beverage processing
Wet process miller - food and beverage processing
Wine fermenter - food and beverage processing
Winemaker - food and beverage processing
Wine pasteurizer
Winery cellarman/woman - food and beverage processing
Winery-press operator
Winterizer tender - food and beverage processing
Wort cooler - food and beverage processing
Wort maker - food and beverage processing
Yeast cutter
Yeast dryer
Yeast emulsifier tender - food and beverage processing
Yeast maker
Yeast room operator
Yeast separator - food and beverage processing
Yogurt maker

Duties

Process control operators in this group:

  • Operate multi-function process control machinery through control panels, computer terminals or other control systems to grind, extract, mix, blend, cook or otherwise process food products and to bag, box or otherwise package food products
  • Run multi-function process control machinery to grind, extract, mix, blend, distill, ferment or otherwise process alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages and to bottle, can or otherwise package beverages
  • Look at gauges, computer printouts and video monitors to verify specified processing conditions and make adjustments to process variables such as cooking times, ingredient inputs, flow rates and temperature settings
  • Maintain shift log of production and other data

Machine operators in this group:

  • Set up and adjust processing and packaging machines preparatory to operation
  • Operate single-function machines to grind, extract, mix, blend, freeze, cook or otherwise process food or beverage products and to box, can or otherwise package food or beverage products
  • Check products for defects and compliance to company standards and adjust machine as necessary
  • Record production information such as quantity, weight, size, date and type of products packaged
  • Perform corrective machine adjustements, clean machines and immediate work areas

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

$41,712

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$30.00/hr
Median$20.00/hr
Low$17.40/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2024 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

4,935

% Employed Full Time

64%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in a regular controlled indoor environment
  • Working with equipment, instruments, machinery or power/hand tools can be a source of injury
  • Workers may be exposed to steam or intensely hot surfaces that 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

Career Pathways

There is little movement among the various types of process control operators in the food and beverage processing industry. Process control operators may progress to supervisory positions in food and beverage processing with experience.

There is movement among machine operators within the food and beverage processing industry. Machine operators may progress to process control operators or supervisory positions in food and beverage processing 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

  • Completion of secondary school may be required
  • On-the-job training is provided
  • Experience as a machine operator in food, beverage or associated products processing is usually required for industrial process control operators
  • Experience as a labourer in food, beverage or associated products processing may be required for machine operators

 

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!

Operations Monitoring

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

62%
Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

56%
Monitoring

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

55%
Critical Thinking

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

51%
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.

50%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

50%
Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

48%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

48%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

47%
Judgment and Decision Making

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

47%

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

4,935
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 75 1.5%
Kootenay 205 4.1%
Mainland/Southwest 3,270 66.2%
North Coast and Nechako 55 1.1%
Northeast 15 0.3%
Thompson-Okanagan 830 16.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 485 9.8%
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)

2,190
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 0 -2.0%
Kootenay 10 -1.2%
Mainland/Southwest 1,790 1.6%
North Coast and Nechako 10 0.7%
Northeast Not available Not available
Thompson-Okanagan 280 0.1%
Vancouver Island/Coast 100 -0.4%
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)
Manufacturing1,700
Wholesale Trade140
Accommodation and Food Services100
Construction50
Transportation and Warehousing50
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.