Science
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.
Median salary (BLS)
$52,130
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$40k – $79k
Job outlook
+5% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $119,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Food Science Technicians
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Food Science Technicians
Entry / Junior
$39,820
~2 yrs to advance
Food Science Technicians
Established
$52,130
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Food Science Technicians
Senior
$65,475
Key skills
A typical day
- •Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.
- •Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dimensions meet specifications.
- •Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agencies.
- •Monitor and control temperature of products.
- •Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Science
Explore all- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- California Institute of Technology3% admit · $112,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.