What is a Food Scientist or Technologist?
Example of Food Scientist or Technologist Job 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.
Life As a Food Scientist or Technologist: What Do They Do?
- Demonstrate products to clients.
- Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
- Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
- Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
- Seek substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives, such as nitrites.
- Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences.
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Skills Needed to be a Food Scientist or Technologist
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.
Types of Food Scientist or Technologist
- Technical Director
- Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician)
- Seafood Technology Specialist
- Research Chef
- Process Engineer
Is There Going to be Demand for Food Scientists and Technologists?
In the United States, there were 17,000 jobs for Food Scientist or Technologist in 2016. 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. The BLS estimates 1,800 yearly job openings in this field.
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 salary for Food Scientists and Technologists ranges between about $39,510 and $118,630 a year.
Food Scientists and Technologists who work in District of Columbia, Illinois, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Food Scientists and Technologists make 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 |
What Tools do Food Scientists and Technologists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Food Scientists and Technologists may use on a daily basis:
- 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 many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Food Scientists and Technologists?
The table below shows the approximate number of Food Scientists and Technologists employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Food Scientist or Technologist may also be interested in:
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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