Food Scientists and Technologists

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources · Food Products and Processing Systems

Bright outlookJob zone 4: considerable preparationO*NET 19-1012.00

Pay and outlook shown for

median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

$51k10th$98kMedian$147k90th

New workers start near $51,020; experienced workers reach $146,800. About 60 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.

Job outlook

Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.

Employment change: +24.5%; Alamo region, 53 to 66 jobs · U.S. +7%
Openings a year: 6; in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 1,200
Employed in 2024: 53; in the Alamo region · U.S. 15,200

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Alamo Colleges programs that lead here

2 programs, with the college that teaches each.

Apply to Alamo Colleges

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

Reading Comprehension4.3
Active Listening4.0
Writing4.0
Critical Thinking4.3
Speaking4.0
Monitoring3.9
Complex Problem Solving3.9
Active Learning3.9

What the work is

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.

Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards.
Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

Bachelor's degree65%
Master's degree9%
Doctoral or professional26%

Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.

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