Food Technology and Processing

Types of Degrees Food Technology and Processing Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many food technology & processing graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Master’s Degree	22
Graduate Certificate	4
Doctor’s Degree	3

What Food Technology and Processing Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to food technology and processing were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Food Technology and Processing Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in food technology and processing should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• 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.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Skills for Food Technology and Processing Majors

When studying food technology and processing, 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 Technology and Processing Majors

Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a food technology and processing student include the following:

• 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.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

What Can You Do With a Food Technology and Processing Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with food technology and processing:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
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 Technology and Processing?

This major is dominated by women with about 64% of recent graduates being female.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of food technology and processing majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	2
Black or African American	2
Hispanic or Latino	2
White	12
International Students	4
Other Races/Ethnicities	0

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Food Technology and Processing. About 18.2% of those with this major are international students.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Food Technology and Processing

Some degrees associated with food technology and processing may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to food technology and processing have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	0.9%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	11.8%
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)	4.6%
Some College Courses	2.4%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	11.0%
Bachelor’s Degree	39.1%
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.	1.6%
Master’s Degree	22.3%
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.	5.4%
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.	0.7%
Doctoral Degree	2.5%

Online Food Technology and Processing Programs

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)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	5	1
Certificate (2-4 Years)	0	0
Associate’s Degree	7	0
Bachelor’s Degree	2	1
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	3	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	2	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Majors Related to Food Technology and Processing

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to food technology and processing.

Major	Number of Grads
Food Science	1,552
Viticulture and Enology	237
Food Science & Technology, Other	114
Brewing Science	110
Zymology/Fermentation Science	74

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• 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.