Food Scientists and Technologists

Use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.

$78,770
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
+6% projected 2024โ€“2034
Bachelor's degree
Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Food scientists and technologists work in laboratories, processing facilities, and test kitchens to ensure food products are safe, nutritious, and appealing to consumers. They spend their days conducting experiments to develop new food products, testing ingredients for quality and safety, and analyzing how different processing methods affect taste, texture, and shelf life. A typical day might involve using microscopes to examine food samples for bacteria, running chemical tests to measure vitamin or protein content, or collaborating with production teams to scale up a new recipe for mass manufacturing. They also work on improving food preservation techniques, developing healthier alternatives to existing products, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Food Science and Technology(masters)Michigan State University, MI
$92,232
Food Science and Technology(masters)Kansas State University, KS
$90,394
Food Science and Technology(masters)University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL
$89,713
Agriculture(masters)Washington State University, WA
$85,908
Food Science and Technology(masters)Mount Mary University, WI
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Drexel University, PA
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)North Carolina State University at Raleigh, NC
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Oregon State University, OR
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Oregon State University-Cascades Campus, OR
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, LA
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Mississippi State University, MS
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Oklahoma State University-Main Campus, OK
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Chapman University, CA
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Clemson University, SC
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)New York University, NY
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Brigham Young University, UT
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Ohio State University-Main Campus, OH
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Colorado State University-Fort Collins, CO
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Cornell University, NY
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, CA
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)North Dakota State University-Main Campus, ND
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)California State University-Fresno, CA
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Alabama A & M University, AL
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Illinois Institute of Technology, IL
$85,889
Food Science and Technology(masters)Purdue University-Main Campus, IN
$85,889

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