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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
Southeast Minnesota 6012$47.93/hr$28.74/hr$36.42/hr$46.01/hr$60.59/hr$72.02/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Manufacturing230$40.84/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities50$75.41/hr
Professional and Business Services380$50.29/hr
Education and Health ServicesN/AN/A
Public AdministrationN/AN/A
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change -10-
Northwest Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA N/AN/AN/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
St Cloud MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Northwest Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Southwest Balance of State 20$41.96/hrN/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA 20$44.86/hrN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA 20$41.25/hrN/A
Rochester MN MSA 20$50.35/hrN/A
Central Minnesota 40$45.96/hr11.1%
Southeast Minnesota 60$46.01/hr6.5%
Southeast Balance of State 70$40.29/hrN/A
Southwest Minnesota 100$38.61/hr5.7%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 390$50.29/hr4.5%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA 440$50.29/hrN/A
Minnesota 670$49.07/hrN/A


Occupations Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Animal Scientists 100$43.81/hr3.4%
Soil and Plant Scientists 750$39.35/hr4.5%
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists 2,460$47.94/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.