Jobs in the Mushroom Industry The jobs in the mushroom industry can be divided into five domains. The mushroom industry has three stages: first is the production of compost that is used to cultivate the mushrooms; second, the cultivation of mushrooms; and finally, the packing and distribution of the mushrooms to market. Thus there are jobs available concerning each of these stages. In addition, for each of these stages there are office, maintenance, and operations jobs. Composting Machine Operators: $12-16 hourly Certification required, but is often given on the job Operates equipment Loads and distributes compost Local Truck Drivers: $10-22 hourly Valid Pennsylvania Driver s License Experience driving trucks preferred Deliver goods Help load trucks Commercial Truck Drivers: $12-22 hourly Commercial Driver s License Responsible for transporting goods in a heavy or tractor trailer truck Assistant Composter: $15-20 hourly X X
Head Composter: $75-120K 5 years experience as assistant composter X Mushroom Growing General labor positions: $8-14 hourly plus benefits Entry level Room prep, scatch beds and loading dock Sanitation and disease control Harvester: $8.50-18 hourly plus benefits Entry level Harvest mushrooms depending on the passes prescribed for that day Prepare beds for good mushroom growth Basket Catcher/Quality Assurance: $9-20 hourly plus benefits Some mushroom farm experience preferred Ability to lift 20 pounds Valid Driver s License Receive and review mushroom baskets that have been harvested and ensure that mushrooms are of a particular quality Complete food safety checks daily, train employees on food safety, inspect areas for food safety and employee safety hazards Crew Leaders: $10-15 hourly plus benefits
Harvester experience preferred and some management experience Ability to lift 20 pounds Ability to follow and explain procedures Oversee a crew of harvesters, ensure that they are picking that day s passes. Document mushrooms picked that day and ensure that harvesters have everything needed. Supervisors: $40-60K salary plus benefits 1 year experience as crew leader Leadership skills In charge of managing all the harvesters, training new harvesters, documenting mushrooms harvested, creating notice boards and deciding on passes and ensuring that production hits targets Assistant Grower: $30-60K salary plus benefits Desire to learn Ability to multitask and manage time 1 year farm experience in any capacity Follow the direction of head grower and double check everything Head Grower: $75-120K salary plus benefits 5 years experience as an assistant grower Leadership skills Makes all the decisions regarding the cultivation of the mushroom, such as when to put in the spawn, peat moss and water Regulate oxygen, humidity and temperatures for the room Set targets for production Watering Personnel: $10.50-16.50 hourly plus benefits
At least 1 year experience with mushrooms Water all houses Apply pesticides as instructed by supervisor/grower Packing: Receiving: $9-14 hourly plus overtime Ability to read and write Receive pallets of mushrooms using a pallet jack Weigh and tag pallets Move pallets to coolers Box Machine: $9.50-14 hourly plus overtime Move pallets of boxes around using jack and forklift Place flat boxes in machine and stack assembled boxes Packers/Weighers: $8-14 hourly plus overtime Lift up to 20 pounds Weigh all boxes/tills while inspecting for quality Remove/add mushrooms when needed Dump collect product from washer, slicer, grater Jack Pullers: $11.95 hourly X X Quality Assurance: $10.50-22 hourly plus overtime
Must be able to read and write in English and Spanish Complete food safety checks Inspect for food safety and employee safety issues Shipping Pullers: $9-14 hourly plus overtime Able to read and write Pull product based on customer orders and palletize to be shipped Use pallet jack to move product around Line Leaders: $10.50-16 hourly plus overtime Ability to read and write Lift up to 20 pounds 1 year experience packing Make sure the line is running to correct product Complete traceability for each lot Conduct metal detector checks Dump Stack/Catch: $9.40 hourly plus overtime X X Night Sanitation: $8.50-14 hourly plus overtime Take direction from supervisor Schedule what to clean and how Assistant Pack Room Manager: $13-25 hourly plus overtime
Read and write 1 year experience as line leader Direct the room on what to weigh/pack Supervise employees Operations Manager/Pack Room Manager: $40-60K salary plus benefits 5 years experience in management and mushroom industry Make sure all orders are being packed Manage all packaging materials Room organization and people Office Jobs: Dispatcher: $12-20 hourly X X Food Safety Inspector: $9-14 hourly X X Food Safety Coordinator: $12-20 hourly Degree in food science or related field Coordinate with managers and supervisors to ensure that food safety regulations are being followed
Maintain foreign object logs Marketing: $13-25 hourly Marketing degree Develop marketing material Run social media pages Attend food shows Sales: $20+ hourly X X Quality Assurance Manager/Food Safety Director: $30-60K salary 5 years experience in Quality Assurance Build food safety, food defense and employee safety programs Manage other QA staff Run food safety inspections Human Resources: $12-25 hourly Human Resources experience or degree preferred Onboard new employees Administer payroll Mediate employee issues Train supervisors on how to handle HR issues Manage FMLA cases Manage workers compensation cases Finances/Office Manager: $40-60K salary Bachelors degree preferred
5 years experience in AR/AP Oversee company finances Accounts payable and receivable Manage payroll Office Assistant: $12-20 hourly 1 year experience in office work Able to use Microsoft office and computers Complete all office tasks directed by office manager Answer phones Maintenance: Operations Manager: $50-100K 5 years of related experience X Generalized Maintenance: $8.50-14 hourly Experience in basic construction, electrical, etc Fixes mushroom house boards when needed Completes basic work orders Specialized Maintenance: $12-30 hourly Experience with welding, carpentry, plumbing, electrical or car mechanics
Completes all work orders Maintenance Manager: $20+ hourly Degree in area of maintenance Management experience Manage all employees in maintenance Ensure all work orders are completed Work on larger projects