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zymology/fermentation science

Types of Degrees zymology/fermentation science Majors Are Earning

People majoring in zymology/fermentation science have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	11
Master’s Degree	63

What zymology/fermentation science Majors Need to Know

Studies in zymology/fermentation science develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that zymology/fermentation science graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in zymology/fermentation science emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Production and Processing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Food Production — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Public Safety and Security — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a zymology/fermentation science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to zymology/fermentation science careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Information Ordering — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, zymology/fermentation science graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.1 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	3.9 / 7
Getting Information	3.9 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	3.9 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.9 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.8 / 7
Working with Computers	3.6 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by zymology/fermentation science professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Plex Systems Plex Manufacturing Cloud	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Edible Software	Inventory management software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Spreadsheet software	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for zymology/fermentation science graduates include:

• Dry Starch Operator
• Syrup Maker
• Blender
• Oleomargarine Maker
• Spice Mixer
• Candy Polisher
• Blender Operator
• Marzipan Maker
• Pickler
• Ingredient Handler
• Blend Operator
• Cream Beater
• Candy Puller
• Vinegar Maker
• Refined Syrup Operator

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to zymology/fermentation science graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	40.1%
Some college courses	16.7%
Bachelor’s degree	14.4%
Postsecondary certificate	12.9%
Less than a high school diploma	8.4%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	4.4%
Master’s degree	2.7%
Post-doctoral training	0.2%
Doctoral degree	0.2%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in zymology/fermentation science?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 51.4% women and 48.6% men among zymology/fermentation science graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	38	51.4%
Men	36	48.6%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of zymology/fermentation science graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	65	87.8%
Hispanic or Latino	2	2.7%
Black or African American	2	2.7%
Two or More Races	4	5.4%
International Students	1	1.4%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do zymology/fermentation science Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of zymology/fermentation science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$55,828
4 years	$59,662
5 years	$68,842

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $68,842 — roughly 23% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in zymology/fermentation science Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, zymology/fermentation science graduates earn a median of $59,662 four years after completion — roughly 57% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Food Science and Technology	01.10
Brewing Science	01.1003
Food Science and Technology, Other	01.1099
Food Science	01.1001
Food Technology and Processing	01.1002
Viticulture and Enology	01.1004
Agricultural and Food Products Processing	01.0401
Agriculture, General	01.0000
International Agriculture	01.0701

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.