Food Scientists and Technologists: salary, outlook & degrees
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.
Middle half $68,810–$116,650. 13,060 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 1,000 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | $108,660 |
| Missouri | $105,930 |
| New Jersey | $104,340 |
| Massachusetts | $103,580 |
| Florida | $101,160 |
| Colorado | $99,580 |
| Minnesota | $99,280 |
| Kentucky | $98,710 |
| Alabama | $97,480 |
| Washington | $94,990 |
| Illinois | $94,340 |
| New York | $94,070 |
| California | $93,950 |
| Virginia | $93,590 |
| Maryland | $93,330 |
| Texas | $90,610 |
| Arizona | $90,450 |
| Maine | $89,480 |
| Rhode Island | $87,970 |
| Georgia | $86,050 |
| Kansas | $85,130 |
| Oklahoma | $84,750 |
| Arkansas | $84,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,380 |
| Wisconsin | $83,020 |
| Iowa | $82,010 |
| Tennessee | $81,760 |
| Oregon | $81,660 |
| Nevada | $80,580 |
| North Carolina | $79,840 |
| New Mexico | $79,130 |
| Idaho | $77,440 |
| Michigan | $76,940 |
| Ohio | $76,780 |
| Utah | $73,280 |
| Nebraska | $72,230 |
| South Dakota | $71,330 |
| Indiana | $69,350 |
| Montana | $52,230 |
Largest metro areas for this job
- New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ$104,200
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN$100,390
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CA$91,060
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MN-WI$101,760
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX$93,670
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont CA$98,930
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH$103,580
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell GA$107,970
- St. Louis MO-IL$108,200
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD$96,210
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial CO$99,900
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers AR$103,300
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Writing
Knowledge used
- Production and Processing
- Food Production
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
Work styles
- Attention to Detail
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Innovation
- Cautiousness
People in this job tend to have Investigative (analytical), Realistic (hands-on), Conventional (organizing) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Food Scientists and Technologists: questions
How much do food Scientists and Technologists make?
Food Scientists and Technologists earn a U.S. median $88,720 a year; the middle half earn $68,810 to $116,650 (BLS, May 2025).
Is food Scientists and Technologists a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 6.2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a food Scientists and Technologist?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. In O*NET's survey, 86% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required.
How much do food Scientists and Technologists make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $101,160 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $88,720 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 19-1012. Method
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Cite this: “Food Scientists and Technologists: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/food-scientists-and-technologists.