Jobs Similar to Food Scientists and Technologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to food scientists and technologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Animal Scientists, Soil and Plant Scientists and Microbiologists.
Food Scientists and Technologists: $88,720 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
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 Scientists and Technologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animal ScientistsSame group | 81% | $68,940−22% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Soil and Plant ScientistsSame group | 80% | $78,850−11% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | MicrobiologistsSame group | 80% | $87,990−1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Validation Engineers | 79% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Materials Scientists | 79% | $117,790+33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Materials Engineers | 78% | $112,860+27% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 77% | $171,270Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 77% | $115,160+30% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Chemical Engineers | 77% | $125,040+41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Agricultural Engineers | 76% | $98,590+11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Conservation ScientistsSame group | 76% | $73,010−18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Nanosystems Engineers | 76% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 75% | $55,090−38% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Industrial Ecologists | 75% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Nuclear Engineers | 74% | $133,970+51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Microsystems Engineers | 74% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Petroleum Engineers | 74% | $144,910+63% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Food Science Technicians | 74% | $52,130−41% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Chemists | 74% | $91,240+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 74% | $82,220−7% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Animal Scientists
81% similar · $68,940 (−22%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Soil and Plant Scientists
80% similar · $78,850 (−11%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Microbiologists
80% similar · $87,990 (−1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Validation Engineers
79% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Materials Scientists
79% similar · $117,790 (+33%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Materials Engineers
78% similar · $112,860 (+27%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
77% similar · $171,270 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
77% similar · $115,160 (+30%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Chemical Engineers
77% similar · $125,040 (+41%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Agricultural Engineers
76% similar · $98,590 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Conservation Scientists
76% similar · $73,010 (−18%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Nanosystems Engineers
76% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 13Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
75% similar · $55,090 (−38%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Industrial Ecologists
75% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 15Nuclear Engineers
74% similar · $133,970 (+51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Microsystems Engineers
74% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 17Petroleum Engineers
74% similar · $144,910 (+63%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Food Science Technicians
74% similar · $52,130 (−41%) · Training or associate
- 19Chemists
74% similar · $91,240 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
74% similar · $82,220 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree
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 scientists and technologists.
- Petroleum Engineers74% similar · $144,910 (+63%)
- Nuclear Engineers74% similar · $133,970 (+51%)
- Chemical Engineers77% similar · $125,040 (+41%)
- Materials Scientists79% similar · $117,790 (+33%)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors77% similar · $115,160 (+30%)
- Materials Engineers78% similar · $112,860 (+27%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for food scientists and technologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where food scientists and technologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Chemists (81)
- Food Science Technicians (79)
- Validation Engineers (79)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (77)
- Quality Control Systems Managers (77)
- Agricultural Engineers (76)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (75)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (74)
- Hydrologists (73)
- Nanosystems Engineers (73)
Questions about jobs like food scientists and technologists
What jobs are most similar to food scientists and technologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Animal Scientists (81% similar), Soil and Plant Scientists (80% similar), Microbiologists (80% similar), Validation Engineers (79% similar) and Materials Scientists (79% similar).
Which jobs like food scientists and technologists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Engineers ($144,910, +63%; usually a bachelor's degree), Nuclear Engineers ($133,970, +51%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Chemical Engineers ($125,040, +41%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with food scientists and technologists ($88,720). Without more preparation than food scientists and technologists usually need: Petroleum Engineers, Nuclear Engineers and Chemical Engineers.
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.