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Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

Food Scientists and Technologists

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.

Also called: Corporate Food Scientist, Food and Drug Research Scientist, Food Engineer, Food Safety Regulatory Manager, Food Scientist, Food Technologist

Median pay in Greater Boston
$103,580
$49.80/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
370
Massachusetts 2024–2034
Not published
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$72,130$92,080$103,580$157,100$183,260

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
  • Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
  • Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
  • Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
  • Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
  • Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure69 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 66
  • Language-model AIOE 61
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 80

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

Food scientists have higher AI exposure, but observed AI use in this job is little or none so far. AI tools could help with reviewing scientific papers, tracking regulation changes, and drafting standards or specifications. Walking through plants, checking ingredients and finished products, and judging flavor and texture still need a person on site.

Likely to change

  • Reviewing scientific literature and new regulations
  • Drafting production specifications and standards

Still relies on people

  • Inspecting food processing areas in person
  • Checking ingredients and products for safety and quality

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Chemists

    You already develop and improve formulas and analyze composition. Chemists do similar lab work and earn a higher Boston median pay of $127,290.

    Pay difference
    +$23,710 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +1.0%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Microbiologists

    Testing food for safety and quality carries over to testing food, water, and the environment for harmful microorganisms. Pay is higher, at $122,350.

    Pay difference
    +$18,770 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +1.1%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Industrial Production Managers

    Setting product standards and checking samples is core work for production managers. The move adds team leadership and a Boston median pay of $153,210.

    Pay difference
    +$49,630 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +2.3%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

2 programs near Boston

Related occupations

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