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.
Also called: Applications Scientist, Corporate Food Scientist, Crop Advisor, Dairy Bacteriologist, Enologist, Fermentation Scientist
Median pay
$88,720
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$52,920 – $145,280
People employed
13,060
Holland code
IRC
Investigative · Realistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Food Scientists and Technologists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (39 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What food scientists and technologists do
- 01Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
- 02Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
- 03Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
- 04Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
- 05Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
- 06Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Food Production
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from food scientists and technologists
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers84% · group pay
- Chemists84% · +3%
- Chemical Engineers84% · +41%
- Agricultural Engineers83% · +11%
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors81% · +30%
Change into food scientists and technologists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Chemists81% · $91,240
- Food Science Technicians79% · $52,130
- Validation Engineers79% · $102,440
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers77% · $171,270
- Quality Control Systems Managers77% · $126,060
Majors that lead here
- Agriculture, General
- International Agriculture
- Food Science
- Food Technology and Processing
- Brewing Science
- Viticulture and Enology
- Zymology/Fermentation Science
- Food Science and Technology, Other
- Culinary Science/Culinology
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.