What Do Food Scientist or Technologist Do?
Job Description: 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.
A Day in the Life of a Food Scientist or Technologist
- Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
- Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences.
- Demonstrate products to clients.
- Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
- Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
- Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
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Food Scientist or Technologist Skills
Food Scientists and Technologists 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.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
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.
Other Food Scientist or Technologist Job Titles
- Food and Drug Research Scientist
- Research Food Technologist
- Associate Professor
- Technical Director
- Product Development Scientist
Are There Job Opportunities for Food Scientists and Technologists?
There were about 17,000 jobs for Food Scientist or Technologist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,000 new jobs for Food Scientist or Technologist by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,800 positions for Food Scientist or Technologist per year.
The states with the most job growth for Food Scientist or Technologist are Utah, Colorado, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in Washington, Vermont, or South Carolina. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Food Scientist or Technologist Salary
The typical yearly salary for Food Scientists and Technologists is somewhere between $39,510 and $118,630.
Food Scientists and Technologists who work in District of Columbia, Illinois, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Food Scientists and Technologists in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $54,340 |
| Arizona | $65,100 |
| Arkansas | $84,580 |
| California | $72,580 |
| Colorado | $68,520 |
| Connecticut | $81,290 |
| District of Columbia | $97,570 |
| Florida | $76,740 |
| Georgia | $65,500 |
| Idaho | $67,600 |
| Illinois | $89,700 |
| Indiana | $72,760 |
| Iowa | $67,360 |
| Kansas | $76,380 |
| Kentucky | $58,260 |
| Maine | $52,000 |
| Maryland | $87,530 |
| Massachusetts | $87,700 |
| Michigan | $59,610 |
| Minnesota | $80,320 |
| Missouri | $65,190 |
| Nebraska | $72,100 |
| New Jersey | $78,560 |
| New York | $61,630 |
| North Carolina | $58,430 |
| Ohio | $78,950 |
| Oklahoma | $54,720 |
| Oregon | $65,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,670 |
| Rhode Island | $73,400 |
| South Dakota | $56,150 |
| Tennessee | $60,330 |
| Texas | $67,500 |
| Utah | $59,890 |
| Vermont | $86,360 |
| Virginia | $67,950 |
| Washington | $62,830 |
| Wisconsin | $63,140 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Food Scientists and Technologists
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Food Scientists and Technologists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- SAP
- Insightful S-PLUS
- STATISTICA
- Image analysis software
Becoming a Food Scientist or Technologist
Learn what Food Scientist or Technologist education requirements there are.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Food Scientist or Technologist?
Who Employs Food Scientists and Technologists?
Below are examples of industries where Food Scientists and Technologists work:
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Are you already one of the many Food Scientist or Technologist in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: W.carter via Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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