What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Food Science Technicians in the U.S. earn more than $52,130 a year — the middle 80% land between $39,820 and $78,820. About 14,600 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Food Science Technicians”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$52,130typical pay / year
14,600people in this work
$78,820+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Protecting2
Inspect foodstuffs, chemicals, and additives
+Inspect the incoming batch of canned sauces for foreign matter, pH, and preservative levels, record all…
Inspect foodstuffs, chemicals, and additives
+Inspect the incoming batch of canned sauces for foreign matter, pH, and preservative levels, record all instrument readings and calibration status in the lab report, flag any out-of-spec results for hold and notify quality manager immediately.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Operate laboratory testing equipment
+Run the moisture balance, chromatography, and microbial assays on the three allergen-prone samples this…
Operate laboratory testing equipment
+Run the moisture balance, chromatography, and microbial assays on the three allergen-prone samples this morning, follow SOPs, verify instrument calibration before each run, save raw data and summary tables, and hand results to the lab manager for certification by 3pm.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Move2
Supervise other food science technicians.
+Join the morning shift, assign four technicians to sample prep, review their calibration checks, oversee…
Supervise other food science technicians.
+Join the morning shift, assign four technicians to sample prep, review their calibration checks, oversee homogenization and labeling of 24 samples, ensure chain-of-custody forms are completed, and sign off on the daily supervisor log before lunch.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Maintain laboratory stock
+Take physical inventory of reagents and consumables, note lot numbers, expiry dates and minimum reorder…
Maintain laboratory stock
+Take physical inventory of reagents and consumables, note lot numbers, expiry dates and minimum reorder levels in the stock ledger, flag items below threshold and generate a purchase requisition for procurement by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptions
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Keeping the record2
Collect and prepare samples
+Collect 30 retail and production samples across three SKUs, prepare homogenates and aliquots per SOP, label…
Collect and prepare samples
+Collect 30 retail and production samples across three SKUs, prepare homogenates and aliquots per SOP, label each with batch and timestamp, run preliminary screens, upload sample metadata and results to the lab tracker, and hand raw aliquots to chem for confirmatory testing.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelSAPESCOjob descriptions
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Record and keep detailed test data
+Record each experiment's raw readings, sample IDs, instrument serials and calibration status into the…
Record and keep detailed test data
+Record each experiment's raw readings, sample IDs, instrument serials and calibration status into the test-data register, attach the scanned run sheets and instrument logs, and back up the file nightly to the archived test-data folder.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work15
Compile and analyze test results
+Compile the test run data from the past two weeks, flag any anomalous values, calculate pass rates by test…
Compile and analyze test results
+Compile the test run data from the past two weeks, flag any anomalous values, calculate pass rates by test type and instrument, attach the cleaned dataset and a one-page summary for the lab manager by Wednesday morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Use laboratory equipment to examine organic substances such as bodily fluids, medicines, plants and food
+Run the prescribed assays on the provided samples, record instrument settings and calibration logs, report…
Use laboratory equipment to examine organic substances such as bodily fluids, medicines, plants and food
+Run the prescribed assays on the provided samples, record instrument settings and calibration logs, report qualitative and quantitative findings for each bodily fluid, medicine and plant extract in the lab report template before the end of my shift.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCOO*NET
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Monitor and control temperature of products.
+Collect temperature logs for the last 30 days for product storage, identify excursions outside set limits,…
Monitor and control temperature of products.
+Collect temperature logs for the last 30 days for product storage, identify excursions outside set limits, compute time-weighted averages and recommend corrective setpoint changes in a one-page brief for operations by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Train newly hired laboratory personnel.
+Prepare a two-hour hands-on session for the new hires covering sample handling, instrument calibration steps…
Train newly hired laboratory personnel.
+Prepare a two-hour hands-on session for the new hires covering sample handling, instrument calibration steps and the lab safety checklist, include a short quiz and provide the training roster and materials to HR the day after the session.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Compute moisture or salt content, percentages of ingredients, formulas, or other product factors, using mathematical and chemical procedures.
+Calculate moisture and salt percentages for the batch using the submitted wet and dry weights and titration…
Compute moisture or salt content, percentages of ingredients, formulas, or other product factors, using mathematical and chemical procedures.
+Calculate moisture and salt percentages for the batch using the submitted wet and dry weights and titration results, document the formulas and assumptions used, and deliver the final composition sheet to production control today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Prepare or incubate slides with cell cultures.
+Prepare and incubate the slides with the assigned cell cultures, note incubation times and conditions,…
Prepare or incubate slides with cell cultures.
+Prepare and incubate the slides with the assigned cell cultures, note incubation times and conditions, photograph representative fields after 24 and 48 hours and upload images with observation notes to the central lab record at the end of the run.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Mix, blend, or cultivate ingredients to make reagents or to manufacture food or beverage products.
+Prepare the reagent batch sheet for the new buffer run, record measured lot numbers and weights, verify…
Mix, blend, or cultivate ingredients to make reagents or to manufacture food or beverage products.
+Prepare the reagent batch sheet for the new buffer run, record measured lot numbers and weights, verify calibration stickers on the balance, and flag any out-of-spec ingredient before the production chemist signs off today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Prepare charts, presentations, and reports
+Compile the weekly data quality dashboard: pull latest assay yields, error rates, and calibration exceptions,…
Prepare charts, presentations, and reports
+Compile the weekly data quality dashboard: pull latest assay yields, error rates, and calibration exceptions, create three charts showing trend, and draft the two-slide summary for Friday's lab review.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Measure ingredients used in animal feed and inputs
+Record and verify measured quantities for the animal feed sample batch, log ingredient weights and…
Measure ingredients used in animal feed and inputs
+Record and verify measured quantities for the animal feed sample batch, log ingredient weights and tolerances, note any calibration offsets on the scales, and attach the signed measurement log to the batch file before dispatch.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Examine animal and crop specimens for diseases
+Process the specimen examination report: enter observed lesions, microbial findings and test IDs, flag…
Examine animal and crop specimens for diseases
+Process the specimen examination report: enter observed lesions, microbial findings and test IDs, flag samples needing confirmatory tests, and generate the technical report for the veterinarian by end of day.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Ensure products meet safety standards
+Run the product safety checklist for the latest batch: compare measured contaminants and physical tests to…
Ensure products meet safety standards
+Run the product safety checklist for the latest batch: compare measured contaminants and physical tests to acceptance limits, log any nonconformances, and issue the hold notice to production if a safety limit is exceeded.
The tools that do the workSAPMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Operate farm equipment and maintain production areas
+Log today's equipment operation: record tractor and mixer run hours, note maintenance performed, update the…
Operate farm equipment and maintain production areas
+Log today's equipment operation: record tractor and mixer run hours, note maintenance performed, update the production area cleanliness checklist, and email the maintenance lead the completed log before the shift ends.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Test chemical properties of food ingredients
+Run the lab panel for sodium, potassium, moisture and pH on the incoming vanilla extract batch, record…
Test chemical properties of food ingredients
+Run the lab panel for sodium, potassium, moisture and pH on the incoming vanilla extract batch, record instrument calibration checks, flag any out-of-spec readings, and produce a one-page deviation note for quality with raw values and instrument IDs by 5pm today.
The tools that do the workSASjob descriptions
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Provide technical assistance in researching and analysing the relationship between living organisms and their environment
+Gather the field biodiversity and water-quality measurements from the coastal survey, normalise units, run…
Provide technical assistance in researching and analysing the relationship between living organisms and their environment
+Gather the field biodiversity and water-quality measurements from the coastal survey, normalise units, run correlation analyses between species counts and salinity, and draft a two-page technical brief explaining methods, uncertainties and recommended next steps by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Compile reports
+Compile the monthly data-quality report: pull validated assay results, summarise missing or duplicate…
Compile reports
+Compile the monthly data-quality report: pull validated assay results, summarise missing or duplicate records, calculate error rates by analyst, and deliver a concise PDF report with executive summary and appendices to the quality manager on Monday morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Says who?
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Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses