Food Scientists and Technologists
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.
26 alternate job titles:
Salary Information
Food Scientists and Technologists: $85,310 (median) per year.
Starting salary (10th percentile).
Required expreience: Varies by Company
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
| Task Description | Category |
|---|---|
| Test quality of materials or finished products. | General |
| Establish standards for products, processes, or procedures. | General |
| Confer with clients to exchange information. | General |
| Inspect areas for compliance with sanitation standards. | General |
| Evaluate quality of materials or products. | Analysis |
| Evaluate new technologies or methods. | Analysis |
| Research methods to improve food products. | Analysis |
| Collaborate with technical specialists to resolve design or development problems. | Development |
| Develop specifications for new products or processes. | Development |
| Review professional literature to maintain professional knowledge. | Maintenance |
Technology Requirements
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software |
| HubSpot software | Sales and marketing software |
| Hypertext markup language HTML | Web platform development software |
| Marketo Marketing Automation | Sales and marketing software |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software |
| R | Object or component oriented development software |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software |
| BioDiscovery ImaGene | Analytical or scientific software |
| Image analysis software | Analytical or scientific software |
| Insightful S-PLUS | Analytical or scientific software |
| MDS Analytical Technologies GenePix Pro | Analytical or scientific software |
| Oracle Eloqua | Customer relationship management CRM software |
| STATISTICA | Analytical or scientific software |
| Sensory Computer Systems SIMS | Analytical or scientific software |
| Word processing software | Word processing software |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software |
| Structured query language SQL | Data base user interface and query software |
| Tableau | Business intelligence and data analysis software |
| PathogenTracker | Data base user interface and query software |
| U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA National Nutrient Database | Data base user interface and query software |
Relevant Certifications
Industry certifications that may be valuable for this career role:
| Certification | Issuing Organization | Practice Test |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited Agricultural Consultant | American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers | Not Available |
| Certified Food Scientist | Institute of Food Technologists | Not Available |
| Certified Professional - Food Safety | National Environmental Health Association | Not Available |
| Food Safety Manager Certification | National Registry of Food Safety Professionals | Not Available |