What can you do with a Food Science and Technology degree?

First, some facts. Of the Food Science and Technology graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 85 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 68%, Food Science and Technology graduates have a slightly higher likelihood (+1%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, 37% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Food Science and Technology graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Food Science and Technology degree?
• What do Food Science and Technology graduates do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Food Science and Technology degree? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Food Science and Technology degree?
• What are the best colleges for Food Science and Technology?

View a random Food Science and Technology graduate and our analysis:

Relevance score: 87% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2013 from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Food Science and Technology. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Quality Assurance Intern Icicle Seafoods, Inc. Jun 2013 - Aug 2013 The Quality Assurance Intern position at Icicle Seafoods, Inc. directly relates to food safety and quality control principles covered in the Food Science and Technology degree. Quality Assurance Associate Acme Smoked Fish Corp May 2014 - Aug 2016 As a Quality Assurance Associate at Acme Smoked Fish Corp, this role applies specific skills in food safety and quality management learned during the Bachelor's program, making it highly relevant. Training and Development Specialist Acme Smoked Fish Corp Sep 2016 - May 2018 The Training and Development Specialist position at Acme Smoked Fish Corp may involve some understanding of food safety practices, but it does not primarily utilize the core knowledge from a Food Science and Technology degree. Assistant Quality Assurance Manager Cuisine Solutions Jul 2018 - Jun 2019 The Assistant Quality Assurance Manager role at Cuisine Solutions requires the application of food safety and quality assurance principles, making it directly relevant to the degree. Food Safety and Quality Manager Cuisine Solutions Jun 2019 - Nov 2020 As a Food Safety and Quality Manager at Cuisine Solutions, this job directly employs expertise in food science, quality control, and safety regulations, which are central to the Bachelor's degree in Food Science and Technology. ABOUT Passionate, experienced food safety professional with a proven ability to develop lead behavior based processes that support positive, sustainable enhancements of food safety culture. Ability to influence at multiple levels within an organization to build consensus through collaboration. Combines tenacity with solid analytical and science-based thought. Embraces challenges and opportunities.

What jobs can you get with a Food Science and Technology degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Graduate Research Assistant
• Quality Assurance Manager
• Quality Control Technician
• Intern
• Quality Assurance Technician
• Urgent Care Physician Assistant
• Quality Assurance Specialist
• Research Assistant
• Laboratory Technician
• Quality Assurance

Looking at the various job experiences of individuals with a degree in Food Science and Technology, you can see a diverse range of career paths, but there's a noticeable trend toward roles that are either directly or loosely related to food science. Many graduates tend to find their way into jobs like food safety specialists, quality assurance roles, research and development positions, and roles in product development or food management. This reflects the skills they acquired during their studies, focusing on food safety, quality control, and product innovation.

For instance, roles like Quality Assurance Technologist and Food Scientist are very prevalent among these graduates and are clearly relevant to their degrees. These jobs require a solid understanding of food safety regulations and quality standards, which are at the heart of the Food Science and Technology curriculum. On the other hand, some graduates end up in positions that may not utilize their degree significantly. Jobs in sales, customer service, or other non-food-related sectors show that not every graduate finds a role that closely aligns with their educational background. However, most graduates do seem to find work where they can apply at least some of their food science knowledge, even if it’s not directly related to rigorous scientific skills.

In summary, while many individuals with a Food Science and Technology degree do secure jobs that leverage their education well, there is still a notable number who deviate into roles that do not fully utilize their specialized training. This suggests that while the degree opens doors to food-related careers, the job market can lead graduates into other areas as well. In the end, the variety shows both the versatility of the degree and the challenges graduates face in finding strictly relevant roles in today's job landscape.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Food Science and Technology graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Food Science and Technology graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When analyzing the career trajectories of graduates from Food Science and Technology programs, it's clear that there are diverse paths that stem from their degrees. Some graduates land jobs that are closely related to their field from the get-go, while others seem to veer off into less related roles as their careers progress. Looking at the first jobs many of these graduates obtain, internships in food science-related roles are common. For example, a graduate from Shiraz University started with a series of food scientist internships before landing a quality assurance analyst position. This pattern holds true as graduates from UMass and Texas A&M also began their careers with internships at food companies, showing a trend where early career steps are quite relevant to their studies.

However, fast forward five to ten years, and there's a noticeable divergence in career paths. Many graduates continue to thrive in roles that align with food science—like quality assurance and product development positions within food companies. A noteworthy example is a graduate from Clemson University who transitioned from being a culinary intern to a strategic account manager. Others, however, like a graduate from Virginia Tech, found themselves in medical technologist roles, which are far removed from food science despite their initial education. This mix of relevant and unrelated careers in the longer term paints a picture of a versatile degree, but it also raises questions about career satisfaction and relevance. Overall, while there are many success stories within the field, there are also examples of professionals who, after years in the workforce, appear to have drifted away from the core of Food Science and Technology.

How hard is a Food Science and Technology degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology can be a mixed bag in terms of difficulty. It’s not necessarily the hardest major out there, but it definitely has its challenges, especially if you’re not a fan of sciences like chemistry or microbiology. You’ll be diving into topics about food safety, nutrition, and how various processes affect food quality, which can get pretty technical. If you enjoy science and have a passion for food, you'll probably find it engaging, but be prepared for some hefty textbook reading and lab work. So, while it's manageable for those who are interested, it can be a tougher ride if those subjects aren’t your strong points!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Food Science and Technology.

Do Food Science and Technology graduates tend to make good money?

Based on the job histories of these Food Science and Technology graduates, it appears that many of them have made a good living, especially those who have climbed the ranks into managerial or specialized roles like FSQA Managers, Food Safety Specialists, and Senior Product Development Scientists. Many positions seem to be in solid companies like Cargill, Tyson Foods, and Abbott, which generally compensate well for experienced employees. However, some graduates have had a mix of entry-level positions and internships that might suggest they started off on a lower salary before achieving higher-paying roles. Overall, a lot of these folks seem to be on a positive trajectory financially, indicating that they could be enjoying decent earnings in their careers.

On the flip side, some graduates, especially those early in their careers or who switched industries (like teachers or non-food industry roles), might be earning less. For instance, the individual who transitioned into teaching or retail roles likely isn't pulling in as high a salary as someone in a specialized food tech role. So while the job prospects in food science and technology can lead to good pay, a few are probably starting with lower earnings, which might not seem "decent" when compared to their peers in more lucrative positions. In general, though, the field seems to offer solid earning potential as you gain experience and specialize.

What buzzwords do Food Science and Technology graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Food Science and Technology. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Food Science and Technology?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Food Science and Technology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Food Science and Technology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: