Headline risk
10%
Low RiskFood science technicians
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
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.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 15% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 49,430
Employment 2024
20.4K
Projected Change (2024–34)
4.8%
Openings (2024–34)
3.2K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of agricultural and food science technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics. AI use: 0%
- 2. Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agencies. AI use: 0%
- 3. Monitor and control temperature of products. AI use: 0%
- 4. Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables. AI use: 0%
- 5. Conduct standardized tests on food, beverages, additives, or preservatives to ensure compliance with standards and regulations regarding factors such as color, texture, or nutrients. AI use: 0%
- 6. Perform regular maintenance of laboratory equipment by inspecting, calibrating, cleaning, or sterilizing. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 43.1 · 55K employed
Under 25: 4% · 25–54: 75% · 55+: 22%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
title_match · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Agricultural and food science technicians help scientists with testing and research related to plants, animals, fibers, and food and beverage products.
Agricultural and food science technicians work in laboratories, processing plants, farms and ranches, greenhouses, and offices. Most agricultural and food science technicians work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Entry requirements for agricultural and food science technicians vary. Some employers require or prefer that candidates have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, agriculture, or a related field. Other employers hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent and related work experience.
The median annual wage for agricultural technicians was $46,790 in May 2024.
Overall employment of agricultural and food science technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.