Jobs Similar to Food Science Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to food science technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Quality Control Analysts, Food Scientists and Technologists and Chemists.
Food Science Technicians: $52,130 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Food Science Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quality Control AnalystsSame group | 75% | $62,280Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 2 | Food Scientists and Technologists | 74% | $88,720+70% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Chemists | 73% | $91,240+75% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | 73% | $46,380−11% | High school |
| 5 | Biological TechniciansSame group | 72% | $57,510+10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Nuclear Monitoring TechniciansSame group | 71% | $110,240Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 7 | Chemical TechniciansSame group | 70% | $60,390+16% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Food Batchmakers | 70% | $42,290−19% | High school |
| 9 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 69% | $48,570−7% | High school |
| 10 | Quality Control Systems Managers | 69% | $126,060Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Agricultural Inspectors | 69% | $49,940−4% | High school |
| 12 | Microbiologists | 68% | $87,990+69% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 68% | $51,610−1% | High school |
| 14 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 68% | $58,040+11% | High school |
| 15 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 68% | $101,370+94% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 68% | $44,810−14% | High school |
| 17 | Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 68% | $41,590−20% | High school |
| 18 | Agricultural TechniciansSame group | 68% | $49,630−5% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthSame group | 67% | $55,090+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | 67% | $78,120+50% | High school |
- 1Quality Control Analysts
75% similar · $62,280 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Food Scientists and Technologists
74% similar · $88,720 (+70%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Chemists
73% similar · $91,240 (+75%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
73% similar · $46,380 (−11%) · High school
- 5Biological Technicians
72% similar · $57,510 (+10%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
71% similar · $110,240 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 7Chemical Technicians
70% similar · $60,390 (+16%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 8Food Batchmakers
70% similar · $42,290 (−19%) · High school
- 9Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
69% similar · $48,570 (−7%) · High school
- 10Quality Control Systems Managers
69% similar · $126,060 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Agricultural Inspectors
69% similar · $49,940 (−4%) · High school
- 12Microbiologists
68% similar · $87,990 (+69%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
68% similar · $51,610 (−1%) · High school
- 14Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
68% similar · $58,040 (+11%) · High school
- 15Nuclear Medicine Technologists
68% similar · $101,370 (+94%) · Training or associate
- 16Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
68% similar · $44,810 (−14%) · High school
- 17Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
68% similar · $41,590 (−20%) · High school
- 18Agricultural Technicians
68% similar · $49,630 (−5%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 19Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
67% similar · $55,090 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Chemical Plant and System Operators
67% similar · $78,120 (+50%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than food science technicians.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping73% similar · High school
- Food Batchmakers70% similar · High school
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers69% similar · High school
- Agricultural Inspectors69% similar · High school
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders68% similar · High school
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders68% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for food science technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where food science technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like food science technicians
What jobs are most similar to food science technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Quality Control Analysts (75% similar), Food Scientists and Technologists (74% similar), Chemists (73% similar), Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping (73% similar) and Biological Technicians (72% similar).
Which jobs like food science technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nuclear Medicine Technologists ($101,370, +94%; usually training or an associate degree), Chemists ($91,240, +75%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Food Scientists and Technologists ($88,720, +70%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with food science technicians ($52,130). Without more preparation than food science technicians usually need: Nuclear Medicine Technologists, Chemical Plant and System Operators and Chemical Technicians.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.