Food Science Technicians
Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsO*NET 19-4013.00United States
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 annual earnings
- $51,887
- Projected change
- +8.6%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 16.95K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
32.3% of the workforce
Growing to 18.4K by 2035
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These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What food science technicians do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- 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.
- Record or compile test results or prepare graphs, charts, or reports.
- Perform regular maintenance of laboratory equipment by inspecting, calibrating, cleaning, or sterilizing.
- Examine chemical or biological samples to identify cell structures or to locate bacteria or extraneous material, using a microscope.
- Conduct standardized tests on food, beverages, additives, or preservatives to ensure compliance with standards and regulations regarding factors such as color, texture, or nutrients.
- Provide assistance to food scientists or technologists in research and development, production technology, or quality control.
- Train newly hired laboratory personnel.
- Supervise other food science technicians.
- Compute moisture or salt content, percentages of ingredients, formulas, or other product factors, using mathematical and chemical procedures.
- Order supplies needed to maintain inventories in laboratories or in storage facilities of food or beverage processing plants.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $38,226
- 25th percentile
- $44,089
- 50th percentile
- $51,887
- 75th percentile
- $64,275
- 90th percentile
- $82,410
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $51,887 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+8.6%faster than average
202516,945 jobs
2035 projected18,401 jobs
1,456 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 32.3%
- Associate degree
- 23%
- High school diploma or less
- 17.1%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 12.8%
- Some college
- 12.4%
- Doctoral degree or more
- 2.4%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Food Safety Quality Assurance Technicians405 postings
- 02Food Equipment Service Technicians205 postings
- 03Food Safety Technicians107 postings
- 04Food Safety and Quality Assurance Managers95 postings
- 05Food Technicians57 postings
- 06Lead Quality Technicians43 postings
- 07Quality Assurance Lead Technicians33 postings
- 08Lead Quality Control Technicians18 postings
- 09Manufacturing Technicians16 postings
- 10Facilities Maintenance Technicians15 postings
- 11Quality and Food Safety Managers13 postings
- 12Food Safety and Sanitation Managers10 postings
- 13Laboratory Technicians9 postings
- 14Quality Assurance Laboratory Technicians9 postings
- 15Quality Assurance Technicians9 postings
- 16Food Safety Managers7 postings
- 17Manufacturing Quality Technicians6 postings
- 18Science Laboratory Technicians6 postings
- 19Slaughterers5 postings
- 20Dietary Technicians4 postings
Top employers
- 01Walmart232 postings
- 02Butterball75 postings
- 03Buckhead Meat & Seafood Houston43 postings
- 04Tyson Foods24 postings
- 05Sysco19 postings
- 06Actalent18 postings
- 07Cargill16 postings
- 08ManpowerGroup14 postings
- 09Randstad13 postings
- 10Perdue12 postings
- 11Reser's Fine Foods10 postings
- 12ABM Industries7 postings
- 13Flying Food Group7 postings
- 14GreenKiss Staffing Solutions7 postings
- 15Bento6 postings
- 16Jones Networking6 postings
- 17King's Hawaiian6 postings
- 18LSG Sky Chefs6 postings
- 19Rose Acre Farms6 postings
- 20Shearer's Foods6 postings
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