# Food Science Technicians

> Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products. Includes technicians who assist in research and development of production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and use of foods.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/food-science-technicians
- SOC code: 19-4013.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $52,130 (10th percentile $39,820, 90th percentile $78,820)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.8%
- Openings a year: 3,000
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 76 |
| Investigative (I) | 59 |
| Artistic (A) | 6 |
| Social (S) | 12 |
| Enterprising (E) | 16 |
| Conventional (C) | 67 |

## What you'd do

- Training and Teaching Others (importance 83/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 82/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 81/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 79/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 78/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 75/100)
- Getting Information (importance 73/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 67/100)
- Coaching and Developing Others (importance 67/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, Critical Thinking, Science, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis

## Knowledge

Food Production, Production and Processing, Chemistry, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Biology, Mathematics, Administrative, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training

## Also called

Beer Brewer, Biotechnician, Bottle House QC Technician (Bottle House Quality Control Technician), Butter Fat Tester, Central Laboratory Technician (CLT), Cheese Tester, Cream Tester, Dairy and Food Laboratory Assistant (Dairy and Food Lab Assist), Dairy Laboratory Technician (Dairy Lab Tech), Dairy Technician (Dairy Tech)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Biology, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2601) (CIP 2601, 1,703 colleges)
- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4005) (CIP 4005, 1,371 colleges)
- [Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2602) (CIP 2602, 756 colleges)
- [Microbiological Sciences and Immunology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2605) (CIP 2605, 169 colleges)
- [Food Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0110) (CIP 0110, 168 colleges)
- Agricultural and Food Products Processing (CIP 0104, 32 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carlow University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carlow-university-405) | Biology, General | $42,599 | $134,677 | $26,774 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | not reported | $103,546 | $14,935 |
| [Providence College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/providence-college-2158) | Biology, General | $46,526 | $93,757 | $27,000 |
| [Seton Hall University-New Jersey](https://www.collegesref.com/college/seton-hall-university-new-jersey-2399) | Biology, General | $37,643 | $93,200 | $22,375 |
| [College of the Holy Cross](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-the-holy-cross-626) | Chemistry | $51,144 | $93,122 | $18,250 |
| [University of Detroit Mercy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-detroit-mercy-2907) | Biology, General | $28,438 | $91,888 | $18,642 |
| [Kansas State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/kansas-state-university-1364) | Agricultural and Food Products Processing | $87,336 | $91,040 | $16,862 |
| [University of California-Santa Barbara UCSB](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-santa-barbara-ucsb-2888) | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $61,491 | $90,694 | $5,765 |

## Related careers

- [Food Scientists and Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/food-scientists-and-technologists): $88,720 median pay
- [Chemical Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-technicians): $60,390 median pay
- [Quality Control Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/quality-control-analysts): $62,280 median pay
- [Agricultural Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/agricultural-technicians): $49,630 median pay
- [Agricultural Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/agricultural-inspectors): $49,940 median pay
- [Quality Control Systems Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/quality-control-systems-managers): $126,060 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.