Food Science and Technology
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $70,380 | $63,804 to $75,534 | 31 | 100% |
| Master's Degree | $82,065 | $64,934 to $106,121 | 7 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +4% (2023 to 2033), about 130,500 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $83,770 | -1.3% | 85,500 |
| Food Batchmakers | $38,460 | +6.9% | 24,200 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $57,320 | +2.5% | 8,500 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,120 | -4.3% | 5,400 |
| Food Science Technicians | $49,090 | +4.8% | 3,200 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $68,240 | +5.4% | 1,700 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, so this lists where the major commonly leads, not any one graduate's job.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.