Occupation salary profile

Food Science Technicians

SOC 19-4013 BLS OEWS May 2025

Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products. Includes technicians who assist in research and development of production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and use of foods.

National median · BLS
$52,130
▲ +5.46% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$56,660
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
14,600
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Food Science Technicians

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$39,820
25th$46,020
Median (50th)$52,130
75th$63,270
90th — top pay$78,820

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Food Science Technicians

BLS projects employment of food science technicians to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
20,800 → 21,800
+1,000 jobs
Projected change
+4.8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
3,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
1.8% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need an associate's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Food Science Technicians

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Reading Comprehension3.8
  • Active Listening3.5
  • Speaking3.5
  • Writing3.5
  • Critical Thinking3.3
  • Science3.3
  • Complex Problem Solving3.1
  • Coordination3.1
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Quality Control Analysis3.1
Top knowledge areas
  • Food Production3.8
  • Production and Processing3.7
  • Chemistry3.5
  • English Language3.4
  • Computers and Electronics3.1
  • Biology3.1
  • Mathematics3.0
  • Administrative2.6
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordLinuxMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft VisioSAP softwareSASApache JMeterApache StrutsDatabase softwareGraphical user interface GUI design softwareGraphics softwareIBM Lotus NotesIBM WebSphere

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What food science technicians do

  • Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.
  • Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dimensions meet specifications.
  • Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agencies.
  • Monitor and control temperature of products.
  • Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables.
  • Record or compile test results or prepare graphs, charts, or reports.
  • Perform regular maintenance of laboratory equipment by inspecting, calibrating, cleaning, or sterilizing.
  • Examine chemical or biological samples to identify cell structures or to locate bacteria or extraneous material, using a microscope.
Also called
Central Laboratory Technician (CLT)Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech)QC Tech (Quality Control Technician)Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst)Food Science Tech (Food Science Technician)Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant)QA Lab Tech (Quality Assurance Lab Technician)QC Tech (Quality Assurance Technician)Quality AnalystQuality Tech (Quality Technician)
More job titles for this occupation (35)
Beer BrewerBiotechnicianBottle House QC Technician (Bottle House Quality Control Technician)Butter Fat TesterCheese TesterCream TesterDairy and Food Laboratory Assistant (Dairy and Food Lab Assist)Dairy Laboratory Technician (Dairy Lab Tech)Dairy Technician (Dairy Tech)Dairy TechnologistDairy TesterData Control AssistantFermentologistFlavor Technician (Flavor Tech)Food AnalystFood Products TesterFood QC Technician (Food Quality Control Technician)Food Quality Technician (Food Quality Tech)Food Safety QA Tech (Food Safety Quality Assurance Technician)Food Safety Technician (Food Safety Tech)Food TasterFood Technician (Food Tech)Food TesterFruit TesterJuice StandardizerJuice TesterMalt Specifications Control AssistantMilk TesterResearch Technician (Research Tech)Seed AnalystSensory ScientistSugarcane Research Technician (Sugarcane Research Tech)Taste TesterTest BakerYeast Culture Developer

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.