Food Science Technology
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Types of Degrees Food Science Technology Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many food science technology graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 533 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 160 |
| Graduate Certificate | 11 |
What Food Science Technology Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to food science tech and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.
Knowledge Areas for Food Science Tech Majors
Food Science Tech majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Skills for Food Science Tech Majors
When studying food science tech, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- 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.
- 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.
Abilities for Food Science Tech Majors
Food Science Tech majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
What Can You Do With a Food Science Technology Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with food science tech:
| Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Professors | 7.9% | $84,640 |
| Agricultural Technicians | 6.2% | $40,860 |
| Food Science Technicians | 6.2% | $40,860 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | 5.9% | $65,300 |
Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Food Science Technology?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of food science tech majors is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 31 |
| Black or African American | 35 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 31 |
| White | 246 |
| International Students | 160 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 30 |
Geographic Diversity
Food Science Tech appeals to people across the globe. About 30.0% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- South Korea
- Saudi Arabia
How Much Do Food Science Technology Majors Make?
Master’s Degree Starting Salary
The U.S. Department of Education found that students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a master’s degree in food science technology made a median starting salary of $79,400 per year. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $79,400 (25th percentile) and $79,400 (75th percentile).
Note that some of these people may have jobs that are not directly related to a food science tech degree.
Salaries According to BLS
Average salaries range from $44,170 to $90,890 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to food science tech. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Food Science Technology
Some degrees associated with food science tech may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
Find out what the typical degree level is for food science tech careers below.
| Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 0.7% |
| High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 9.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 3.5% |
| Some College Courses | 1.9% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 30.6% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 1.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 20.4% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. | 4.4% |
| First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. | 0.5% |
| Doctoral Degree | 14.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 6.1% |
Online Food Science Technology Programs
In 2018-2019, 107 schools offered a food science tech program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
| Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 28 | 3 |
| Certificate (1-2 years) | 5 | 1 |
| Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
| Associate’s Degree | 17 | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 8 | 3 |
| Post-Baccalaureate | 28 | 3 |
| Master’s Degree | 48 | 5 |
| Post-Master’s | 2 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 36 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Food Science Technology Worth It?
The median salary for a food science tech grad is $72,570 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 82% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $653,400 after 20 years!
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Majors Related to Food Science Technology
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to food science tech.
| Major | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Plant Sciences | 972 |
| Animal Science | 719 |
| Agricultural Economics & Business | 650 |
| General Agriculture | 327 |
| Soil Sciences | 164 |
| Agricultural Production | 163 |
| Agricultural Public Services | 143 |
| International Agriculture | 62 |
| Other Agriculture | 56 |
| Horticulture | 14 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 1 |
| Food Processing | 0 |
References
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By Muhammad Irshad Ansari under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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