As of June 2026, Food Scientists and Technologists has an AI-exposure score of 59/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

Food Scientists and Technologists

59/100
Elevated exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 62% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$88,720. About 1,200 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

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How you compare to similar Science roles

Food Scientists and Technologists (you)
59
Animal Scientists
59
Conservation Scientists
59
Biologists
59
Sociologists
59
Bioinformatics Scientists
59
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable
  • Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
  • Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences.
  • Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
  • Seek substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives, such as nitrites.
  • Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
Augmentable
  • Develop new food items for production, based on consumer feedback.
  • Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards.
  • Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
  • Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
  • Demonstrate products to clients.
  • Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
  • Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
  • Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
Durable

No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (62%).

Safer adjacent roles

Food Science Technicians
80% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$52,130
68
Animal Scientists
72% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$68,940
59
Chemists
64% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$91,240
61
Agricultural Technicians
56% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$49,630
62
Soil and Plant Scientists
48% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$78,850
56
Microbiologists
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$87,990
62
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$171,270
60
Quality Control Analysts
40% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$62,280
70

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.