How long does the training take?

Typically about four years for the degree. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do food scientists and technologists make?

The US median is $88,720 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree for this work?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train for this work?

240 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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Food scientists and technologists: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Science · SOC 19-1012

$88,720US median pay, 2025

+6.2%Projected growth, 2025–35

1,000Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Bachelor's degree
Work in: food scientists and technologists

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Agriculture, General	CIP 01.0000	146
Food Science	CIP 01.1001	70
Viticulture and Enology	CIP 01.1004	26
Food Technology and Processing	CIP 01.1002	18
Food Science and Technology, Other	CIP 01.1099	15
Brewing Science	CIP 01.1003	12
International Agriculture	CIP 01.0701	11
Culinary Science/Culinology	CIP 12.0509	10
Zymology/Fermentation Science	CIP 01.1005	3

See the 240 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically about four years for the degree. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do food scientists and technologists make?: The US median is $88,720 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train for this work?: 240 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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