Food Scientists and Technologists
SOC Code: 19-1012 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Food Scientists and Technologists. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield, MA | $84,178 | $103,875 | $123,573 | $143,270 |
| Springfield, MA | $84,178 | $103,875 | $123,573 | $143,270 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $84,178 | $103,875 | $123,573 | $143,270 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $84,219 | $103,771 | $123,344 | $142,896 |
| Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $83,325 | $103,022 | $122,720 | $142,418 |
| Worcester, MA | $82,950 | $102,648 | $122,346 | $142,043 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $82,742 | $102,482 | $122,221 | $141,960 |
| Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $82,742 | $102,482 | $122,221 | $141,960 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $81,931 | $101,379 | $120,848 | $140,296 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $81,078 | $100,630 | $120,182 | $139,734 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| MSI Express, Inc. | 7 | $70,046 |
| Barry Callebaut USA LLC | 1 | $140,000 |
| Five Star Corrugated & Display, Inc. | 1 | $106,392 |
| Texas A&M AgriLife Research | 1 | $54,000 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | $54,000 |
| 2023 | 3 | $69,396 |
| 2024 | 4 | $86,439 |
| 2025 | 2 | $91,385 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Active Learning | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Science | 3.9 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 | |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Speaking | 3.9 | |
| Writing | 3.9 | |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Production and Processing | 4.4 |
| Food Production | 4.1 |
| Chemistry | 4.0 |
| English Language | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.7 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.7 |
| Biology | 3.5 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.3 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 81.8% |
| Some college | 9.1% |
| Associate's degree | 4.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.5% |
Typical Tasks
- Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards.
- Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
- Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
- Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
- Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
- Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
- Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences.
- Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
HubSpot software Hypertext markup language HTML Marketo Marketing Automation Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word R SAP software Structured query language SQL Tableau BioDiscovery ImaGene Image analysis software
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