Food Science Technicians
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Most of the day is spent in a food or beverage laboratory. Samples are tasted or smelled against flavor specifications, weighed and measured, checked under a microscope for bacteria or stray material, and compared with standard tables. Product temperature is watched and adjusted; bottles and cans are tested for strength and size. Equipment is cleaned, calibrated, and sterilized, and results go into graphs, charts, and records that state or other agencies may require. The work fits people who like careful, repeatable lab work, close attention to sensory detail, and records others can trust.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$52'130
Median Wage Market Position
$52'130
What you might do
- Taste foods and drinks against required flavors
- Weigh bottles and cans for size and strength
- Sort products by comparing results with standards
- Hold product temperatures within required ranges
- Look for bacteria in samples under a microscope
- Keep test records required by state agencies
Skills that matter
- Taste and smell checks of foods
- Measuring containers against product specs
- Agency-required records of test results
- Classifying products from test results
- Microscope checks for bacteria or debris
- Cleaning and sterilizing lab equipment
AI & the future of this role
Bench testing, sensory checks, and production-floor sampling keep a strong hands-on core that resists full automation. Instruments and software may speed routine assays and paperwork, while quality judgment and contamination vigilance still matter.
Does Food Science Technicians fit your values?
Take the free LostInCareer assessment to see personalized matches based on your core values—not just a personality label.
Related careers
Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details