diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 597039a..0b360e0 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -12,7 +12,12 @@ from mev_inspect.db import get_inspect_session, get_trace_session
 from mev_inspect.inspector import MEVInspector
 from mev_inspect.prices import fetch_prices, fetch_prices_range
 from mev_inspect.queue.broker import connect_broker
-from mev_inspect.queue.tasks import export_block_task, inspect_many_blocks_task
+from mev_inspect.queue.tasks import (
+    BACKFILL_INSPECT_MANY_BLOCKS_PRIORITY,
+    LIVE_EXPORT_BLOCK_PRIORITY,
+    export_block_task,
+    inspect_many_blocks_task,
+)
 from mev_inspect.s3_export import export_block
 
 RPC_URL_ENV = "RPC_URL"
@@ -102,7 +107,11 @@ async def inspect_many_blocks_command(
 @click.argument("batch_size", type=int, default=10)
 def enqueue_many_blocks_command(start_block: int, end_block: int, batch_size: int):
     broker = connect_broker()
-    inspect_many_blocks_actor = dramatiq.actor(inspect_many_blocks_task, broker=broker)
+    inspect_many_blocks_actor = dramatiq.actor(
+        inspect_many_blocks_task,
+        broker=broker,
+        priority=BACKFILL_INSPECT_MANY_BLOCKS_PRIORITY,
+    )
 
     if start_block < end_block:
         after_block = start_block
@@ -137,7 +146,9 @@ def fetch_all_prices():
 @click.argument("block_number", type=int)
 def enqueue_s3_export(block_number: int):
     broker = connect_broker()
-    export_actor = dramatiq.actor(export_block_task, broker=broker)
+    export_actor = dramatiq.actor(
+        export_block_task, broker=broker, priority=LIVE_EXPORT_BLOCK_PRIORITY
+    )
     logger.info(f"Sending block {block_number} export to queue")
     export_actor.send(block_number)
 
diff --git a/mev_inspect/queue/tasks.py b/mev_inspect/queue/tasks.py
index a55efd5..8d2f6fa 100644
--- a/mev_inspect/queue/tasks.py
+++ b/mev_inspect/queue/tasks.py
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ from .middleware import DbMiddleware, InspectorMiddleware
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+# create a separate actor for backfill export
+# set to same priority as backfill inspect
+LIVE_EXPORT_BLOCK_PRIORITY = 1
+BACKFILL_INSPECT_MANY_BLOCKS_PRIORITY = 0
+
+
 def inspect_many_blocks_task(
     after_block: int,
     before_block: int,
diff --git a/worker.py b/worker.py
index e0fc895..c9b58ec 100644
--- a/worker.py
+++ b/worker.py
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ from mev_inspect.queue.middleware import (
     DbMiddleware,
     InspectorMiddleware,
 )
-from mev_inspect.queue.tasks import export_block_task, inspect_many_blocks_task
+from mev_inspect.queue.tasks import (
+    BACKFILL_INSPECT_MANY_BLOCKS_PRIORITY,
+    LIVE_EXPORT_BLOCK_PRIORITY,
+    export_block_task,
+    inspect_many_blocks_task,
+)
 
 logging.basicConfig(stream=sys.stdout, level=logging.INFO)
 
@@ -20,5 +25,5 @@ broker.add_middleware(AsyncMiddleware())
 broker.add_middleware(InspectorMiddleware(os.environ["RPC_URL"]))
 dramatiq.set_broker(broker)
 
-dramatiq.actor(inspect_many_blocks_task)
-dramatiq.actor(export_block_task)
+dramatiq.actor(inspect_many_blocks_task, priority=BACKFILL_INSPECT_MANY_BLOCKS_PRIORITY)
+dramatiq.actor(export_block_task, priority=LIVE_EXPORT_BLOCK_PRIORITY)