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Occupational Employment Statistics


DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

19-1012 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.

Geography Click link for Career Profile EmploymentEmp SE*Percentiles
Mean10th25thMedian75th90th
Minnesota   $46.81/hr$25.18/hr$35.59/hr$46.00/hr$62.71/hr$62.71/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Manufacturing240$32.06/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities10$45.10/hr
Professional and Business Services460$47.49/hr
Education and Health ServicesN/AN/A
Public AdministrationN/AN/A
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Northeast Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Northwest Minnesota N/AN/A0.0%
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Minnesota N/A$46.00/hr5.6%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA N/A$47.49/hrN/A
Northwest Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
St Cloud MN MSA 10$30.26/hrN/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA 20$35.56/hrN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA 20$38.41/hrN/A
Rochester MN MSA 30$45.48/hrN/A
Central Minnesota 40$38.90/hr11.1%
Southwest Balance of State 50$37.44/hrN/A
Southeast Minnesota 90$37.33/hr6.5%
Southeast Balance of State 90$30.70/hrN/A
Southwest Minnesota 110$33.49/hr5.7%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 430$47.49/hr4.5%


Occupations Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Animal Scientists 60$67.30/hr3.4%
Soil and Plant Scientists 640$33.29/hr4.5%
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists 2,390$45.66/hr15.0%


  • Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
  • Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
  • Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences.
  • Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
  • Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
  • Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
  • Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
  • Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
  • Develop new food items for production, based on consumer feedback.
  • Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.