Food Science & Technology

Careers in Food Science

The value of the food processing industry is about a hundred billion dollars in the United States alone, a value that is approximately four times larger than the next largest manufacturing industry. There is a constant demand for college graduates, both men and women, with training in food science and technology. This demand is created by the high percentage of foods marketed in processed form rather than as fresh or raw products. Improvements and new developments are the lifeblood of the American competitive system. Consequently, the food and related industries, such as the packaging industry, employ many food technologists. Opportunities open to graduates in the food or allied industries include research; development and production work; technical sales within the food industry or in closely related areas such as the container and equipment manufacturing fields; extension work; research work in experimental stations or in other branches of government; food consulting and promotional work with public or private utilities. The Department of Food Science and Technology offers both undergraduate and graduate instruction designed to give basic and technical training in preparation for work in such industries as meat and poultry processing, canning, freezing, pickling, preserving, and the preparation and preservation of specialty food products. Superior students are encouraged to undertake graduate study since great opportunities are now open to food scientists with advanced degrees.

What can you do with a degree in Food Science? (pdf)

Salaries in Food Science
Median starting salary .............................. $45,800
Median salary ........................................... $84,000
Median salary by degree ....................B.S. $75,000
........................................................M.S. $80,000
.........................................................Ph.D. $97,000