# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/food-scientists-and-technologists
- SOC code: 19-1012.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $88,720 (10th percentile $52,920, 90th percentile $145,280)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.2%
- Openings a year: 1,000
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code IRC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 68 |
| Investigative (I) | 79 |
| Artistic (A) | 24 |
| Social (S) | 19 |
| Enterprising (E) | 26 |
| Conventional (C) | 49 |

## What you'd do

- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 89/100)
- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 83/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 82/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 81/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 80/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 77/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 77/100)
- Processing Information (importance 76/100)

## Skills

Active Learning, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Science, Speaking, Writing, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Food Production, Chemistry, English Language, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, Biology, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service

## Also called

Applications Scientist, Corporate Food Scientist, Crop Advisor, Dairy Bacteriologist, Enologist, Fermentation Scientist, Flavorist, Food and Drug Research Scientist, Food Engineer, Food Preservation Scientist

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

- [Culinary Arts and Related Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1205) (CIP 1205, 510 colleges)
- [Agriculture, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0100) (CIP 0100, 195 colleges)
- [Food Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0110) (CIP 0110, 168 colleges)
- International Agriculture (CIP 0107, 18 colleges)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-madison-main-campus-3084) | Food Science and Technology | $57,824 | $85,445 | not reported |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Agriculture, General | $56,536 | $84,412 | not reported |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Food Science and Technology | $66,519 | $84,147 | not reported |
| [Rutgers University-New Brunswick Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rutgers-university-new-brunswick-main-campus-2279) | Food Science and Technology | $58,376 | $80,979 | $18,673 |
| [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university-3134) | Food Science and Technology | $48,488 | $80,161 | not reported |
| [Kansas State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/kansas-state-university-1364) | Food Science and Technology | $68,015 | $78,367 | $23,250 |
| [University of Massachusetts-Amherst UMASS Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-amherst-umass-main-campus-2950) | Food Science and Technology | not reported | $77,771 | not reported |
| [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-362) | Food Science and Technology | $54,580 | $75,601 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Food Science Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/food-science-technicians): $52,130 median pay
- [Animal Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-scientists): $68,940 median pay
- [Chemists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemists): $91,240 median pay
- [Agricultural Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/agricultural-technicians): $49,630 median pay
- [Microbiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/microbiologists): $87,990 median pay
- [Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biofuels-biodiesel-technology-and-product-development-managers): $171,270 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.