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Food Scientist or Technologist

Overview and Key Facts

food scientists
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$85,310
Job Growth
Job Growth
6.50%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
16,200

What Do They Do?

A food scientist or technologist could...

 
oils
Find a natural substitute for undesirable or harmful food additives or preservatives.
plant
Discover a new food source for people or animals.
chips
Create a better package to help keep crackers crispy longer.
close up shot of frozen raspberries
Determine the nutritional content of food under different conditions, like freezing.
 
oils plant chips close up shot of frozen raspberries

Overview Listen to this section

There is a fraction of the world's population that doesn't have enough to eat or doesn't have access to food that is nutritionally rich. Food scientists or technologists work to find new sources of food that have the right nutrition levels and that are safe for human consumption. In fact, our nation's food supply depends on food scientists and technologists that test and develop foods that meet and exceed government food safety standards. If you are interested in combining biology, chemistry, and the knowledge that you are helping people, then a career as a food scientist or technologist could be a great choice for you!
Watch this interview with food scientist Corey Scott to find out what he enjoys about his job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv22EtyFkSA

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Food Scientist or Technologist?


  1. Writing: ?
  2. Active Listening: ?
  3. Reading Comprehension: ?
  4. Complex Problem Solving: ?
  5. Monitoring: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Food Scientist or Technologist might do:
  • Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
  • Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
  • Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences.
  • Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards.
  • Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
  • Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
  • Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
  • Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
  • Seek substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives, such as nitrites.
  • Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
  • Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
  • Develop new food items for production, based on consumer feedback.
  • Demonstrate products to clients.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
No data available for some states (white on the map)

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Food Scientist or Technologist Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Food Scientist or Technologist jobs (6.50%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Food Scientist or Technologist

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Training requirements for agricultural scientists depend on the type of work they perform. Most food scientists or technologists need at least a master's degree to work in basic or applied research, whereas a bachelor's degree is sufficient for some jobs in applied research or product development, or jobs in other occupations related to agricultural science.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

The minimum requirement for food scientists or technologists is a bachelor of science degree. A bachelor's degree in agricultural science is sufficient for some jobs in product development or assisting in applied research, but a master's or doctoral degree is generally required for basic research or for jobs directing applied research. A PhD in agricultural science usually is needed for college teaching and for advancement to senior research positions.

Students preparing to be food scientists or technologists take courses such as food chemistry, food analysis, food microbiology, food engineering, and food processing operations. Those preparing as soil and plant scientists take courses in plant pathology, soil chemistry, entomology, plant physiology, and biochemistry, among others. Advanced degree programs include classroom and fieldwork, laboratory research, and a thesis or dissertation based on independent research.

Food scientists who have advanced degrees usually begin in research or teaching. With experience, they may advance to jobs as supervisors of research programs or managers of other food technology-related activities.

Companies That Hire Food Scientist or Technologists

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Read how J'Nai Phillips stepped up from studying chemistry at the community college level to conducting award-winning undergraduate research on better ways to store milk.
Research led me to food chemistry, which then led me to food science as a whole. 
J'Nai Phillips

Nature of the Work

The work of food scientists or technologists plays an important part in maintaining the nation's food supply by ensuring food safety. Food scientists and technologists usually work in the food processing industry, universities, or the federal government to create and improve food products. They use their knowledge of chemistry, physics, engineering, microbiology, biotechnology, and other sciences to develop new or better ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods. Some food scientists engage in basic research, discovering new food sources; analyzing food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, or protein; or searching for substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives, such as nitrites. Others engage in applied research, finding ways to improve the content of food or to remove harmful additives. They also develop ways to process, preserve, package, or store food according to industry and government regulations. Traditional food processing research into baking, blanching, canning, drying, evaporation, and pasteurization also continues. Other food scientists enforce government regulations, inspecting food processing areas and ensuring that sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management standards are met.

Food technologists generally work in product development, applying the findings from food science research to improve the selection, preservation, processing, packaging, and distribution of food.

Work Environment

Food scientists or technologists involved in management or basic research tend to work regular hours in offices and laboratories. The work environment for those engaged in applied research or product development varies, depending on specialty and on type of employer. For example, food scientists in private industry may work in test kitchens, while investigating new processing techniques.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Sources

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