Food Scientists and Technologists
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Inspects food plants for sanitation, safety, and waste handling, then checks raw ingredients and finished products for quality, nutrition, and safety. Studies how composition, flavor, color, and texture change in processing and storage, and tests new products against government and industry standards. Writes production specifications and sanitary rules, and keeps up with food-science regulations by reading the scientific literature. Works with process engineers, plant operators, flavor specialists, and packaging and marketing staff when a product runs into trouble. Suits people who like careful testing, reading technical material, and solving practical problems around how food is made and kept.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$88'720
Median Wage Market Position
$88'720
What you might do
- Check ingredients and finished foods for safety
- Study how storage and processing change foods
- Test new products for flavor and nutrition
- Inspect processing areas for sanitation standards
- Draft food standards and production specifications
- Work with plant staff to fix product problems
Skills that matter
- Testing flavor, texture, and nutrition
- Writing food production specifications
- Reading new food science regulations
- Listening to flavor experts and plant operators
- Applying new rules on food processing
- Judging whether ingredients are ready
AI & the future of this role
Formulating safer, longer-lasting products blends lab testing with regulatory and sensory judgment that automation only partly covers. AI might speed recipe screening and quality data review, while plant trials and liability-sensitive safety decisions tend to remain human-led.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details