Career Explorer Science
Grows with AI
Food science technicians
Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products. Includes technicians who assist in research and development of production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and use of foods.
In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 52% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +4.8% by 2035, faster than average.
AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.
- Median pay (2025)
- $52,130
- Job growth to 2035
- +4.8%
- Openings a year
- 3,000
- People doing it (2025)
- 20,800
- Usual route in
- Associate's degree, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Analyze biological or chemical substances or related data
- Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipment
- Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Maintain operational records
- Test characteristics of materials or products
- Evaluate production inputs or outputs
What the work looks like
- Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.
- Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dimensions meet specifications.
- Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agencies.
- Monitor and control temperature of products.
- Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Nuclear techniciansHuman edge, steady, Index 55, +1.1%
- Agricultural inspectorsHuman edge, steady, Index 62, +2.3%
- Biological techniciansGrows with AI, Index 65, +7.4%
- Motorboat operatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 96, +4.9%
Also known as: Central Laboratory Technician (CLT), Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), QC Tech (Quality Control Technician), Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst), Food Science Tech (Food Science Technician), Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant), QA Lab Tech (Quality Assurance Lab Technician), QC Tech (Quality Assurance Technician).
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.