Food scientist careers are projected to grow 6 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations, ranging from general to highly specialized fields such as food microbiology, food engineering, or product development.
What Kind of Income Can You Make in Science of Food Fields?
Food scientists typically earn salaries competitive with other science and engineering degrees. Most have successfully found a job or earned admission to graduate school months after graduation. According to IFT’s 2017 Employment & Salary Survey Report, the median salary for professionals working in the science of food is $92,000. Food science graduates entering the field received a median salary starting at $50,000.
Food Quality & Microbiology – Food microbiologists play a critical role in making sure food is safe to consume. They have expertise in a variety of scientific disciplines.
Food Engineering – Food engineers design and develop systems for processing, storing, packaging, and handling food.
Product Development – Developers, working as part of a team, continually strive to create high quality, nutritious products that taste good and are affordable for consumers.
Food Chemistry – Food chemists develop and improve foods and beverages; analyze methods of cooking, canning, freezing, and packaging; and study the effects of processing on food.
Sensory Science – Sensory scientists work to understand the characteristics of foods and how consumers perceive them. They ensure the foods we eat are appealing in addition to being safe and nutritious.
Food Marketing & Sales – Food marketing and sales professionals communicate through technical presentations, trade shows, print and virtual media, and face-to-face meetings with product developers.
The foundation of IFT was founded in 1985, to be agents of change in the food science industry who are building a diverse pipeline of new talent for the field and harnessing the experience of our partners to feed the world now and into the future. In September 2022, the Foundation joined IFT as a single 501c3 organization.
Our Vision
An enduring culture of support for the world’s next generation of professionals in the science of food for a safe, nutritious, and sustainable food supply for everyone.
Our Mission
To bring the most creative and innovative minds to the science of food and to help them improve the world.
Our Promises
To Motivate:
We promise to encourage the best young minds to pursue careers in the science of food. The world needs the brightest minds engaged in the science of food in order to meet the challenges ahead of us to feed a projected population of 9 billion in 2050.
To Support:
We promise to encourage, promote and reward excellence of students pursuing careers in the science of food. Our scholarship program is one of the largest in the nation rewarding undergraduate and graduate students for their dedication to their future profession.
To Leverage:
We promise to bring together the collective knowledge of our community to pursue food and nutrition solutions for those in need. Knowledge is power. And with a global IFT community of over 60,000 strong, the foundation will contribute knowledge toward food and nutrition solutions, in particular for those at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
Food science professionals receive undergraduate (B.S.) or graduate (M.S., Ph.D.) degrees in food science, food technology, or food engineering, but the field is evolving and becoming increasingly flexible to other science disciplines.
Feeding Tomorrow Scholarships assist students pursuing degrees in a variety of disciplines in the science of food at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. These scholarships allow students to focus more on their education and less on their financial burdens, and also inspire them to give back.
In order to assist with the costs associated with attending IFT Annual Event and Food Expo, Feeding Tomorrow awards a number of Travel Scholarships to students each year.
Do you want to Learn About Food Science? Do you wonder what the world would be like without food science? Interested in what the day in the life of a food scientist might look like? Or just in need of some new fun experiments?
Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) will help you become a more successful student by enhancing your future as a food science professional. Take advantage of IFT Student Association (IFTSA) and Chapter opportunities to set yourself apart through competitions, networking, and leadership opportunities.
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