Food science
jobs are growing rapidly.
Global warming, pesticide resistance, food safety issues and the increasing popularity of organic food are all motivating a push for more food science professionals. In 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a 16 percent greater than average growth for food science related jobs. Although all levels of the food science field require an eye for detail and good organizational skills, you don't need to earn a PhD in order to participate in this growing profession. There are a variety of jobs available from entry level technicians to full-fledged scientific researchers.
Food Science Technician
Food science technicians work under the supervision of a research scientist to conduct tests, monitor results and compile data. Organized, detail-oriented people will be best suited for this kind of work. If that sounds like you, you can pursue a career as a food science technician by attending a community college and taking laboratory science classes. Look for programs that provide a food science technician certification program. You can usually complete this certification program within two years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median salary for food safety technicians was $34,410 in 2010.
Industry Food Safety Scientist
Food safety scientists who work in the farming and food processing industry can often find jobs with only a bachelor's degree in agriculture or food science. You will want to choose a general science degree with coursework in either agriculture or biology depending on your interests. Industry food scientists will conduct research to create or improve food products. Your work as an industry food scientist will involve projects like finding new ways to package food, researching the nutritional value of products or experimenting with ways to improve the shelf-life of food. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the mean annual wage for food scientists who worked in food manufacturing was $67,600 in 2010.
University Food Science Researcher
Food scientists who work at the university level must usually have earned a PhD degree. You will need to choose a specialty for your degree that matches your interests. Graduate students usually specialize in a sub-field of agricultural science, such as animal breeding and genetics, crop science or horticulture science, depending on their interests. For example, if you want to do genetic research you will need a background in cell and molecular biology, while those interested in crop sciences will want to specialize in botany and biology. Food scientists at this level spend their time developing and supervising sophisticated scientific research projects into issues like plant nutrition or bio-remediation. If you work as a university food science researcher your day may be divided between teaching classes, working with graduate students and conducting research.The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated the annual mean salary for university food scientists as $54,680 in 2010.
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