Life As a Food Science Technician
Career Description Perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products.
List of Food Science Technician Job Duties
- Perform regular maintenance of laboratory equipment by inspecting, calibrating, cleaning, or sterilizing.
- Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables.
- Conduct standardized tests on food, beverages, additives, or preservatives to ensure compliance with standards and regulations regarding factors such as color, texture, or nutrients.
- Compute moisture or salt content, percentages of ingredients, formulas, or other product factors, using mathematical and chemical procedures.
- Record or compile test results or prepare graphs, charts, or reports.
- Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.
Skills Needed to be a Food Science Technician
Food Science Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Types of Food Science Technician
- Technician
- Yeast Culture Developer
- Quality Assurance Technician (QA Technician)
- Cheese Supervisor
- Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst)
What Kind of Food Science Technician Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 27,500 jobs for Food Science Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,700 new jobs for Food Science Technician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,000 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Food Science Technician are Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Hawaii, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Food Science Technician
The average yearly salary of a Food Science Technician ranges between $26,980 and $64,020.
Food Science Technicians who work in New Jersey, Massachusetts, or New York, make the highest salaries.
How much do Food Science Technicians make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,960 |
| Arizona | $42,000 |
| Arkansas | $40,800 |
| California | $45,400 |
| Colorado | $45,670 |
| Florida | $40,230 |
| Georgia | $41,780 |
| Hawaii | $44,730 |
| Idaho | $38,510 |
| Illinois | $41,750 |
| Indiana | $44,190 |
| Iowa | $49,940 |
| Kansas | $43,210 |
| Kentucky | $44,720 |
| Louisiana | $37,510 |
| Maine | $36,430 |
| Maryland | $40,390 |
| Massachusetts | $54,500 |
| Michigan | $38,010 |
| Minnesota | $42,580 |
| Mississippi | $37,800 |
| Missouri | $46,660 |
| Montana | $43,650 |
| Nebraska | $39,140 |
| New Jersey | $58,440 |
| New Mexico | $41,170 |
| New York | $51,940 |
| North Carolina | $43,380 |
| North Dakota | $49,640 |
| Ohio | $42,360 |
| Oklahoma | $33,970 |
| Oregon | $43,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,950 |
| South Dakota | $29,370 |
| Tennessee | $39,440 |
| Texas | $46,390 |
| Utah | $36,940 |
| Vermont | $44,810 |
| Virginia | $38,130 |
| Washington | $41,830 |
| West Virginia | $53,260 |
| Wisconsin | $39,730 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Food Science Technicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Food Science Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Visio
- Database software
- SAS
- Linux
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Graphics software
- SAP software
- Presentation software
- IBM Lotus Notes
- IBM WebSphere
- Apache Struts
- Red Hat WildFly
How to Become a Food Science Technician
What education or degrees do I need to become a Food Science Technician?
What work experience do I need to become a Food Science Technician?
Where do Food Science Technicians Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Food Science Technicians employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Muhammad Irshad Ansari via CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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