Food Scientists and Technologists
Use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.
AI Impact Summary
Food Scientists and Technologists faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 37/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 72% of all analyzed occupations. Of 13 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Food Scientists and Technologists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
13 tasks analyzed
Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards.
Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences.
Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
Demonstrate products to clients.
Develop new food items for production, based on consumer feedback.
Seek substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives, such as nitrites.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value. | 67Estimated | 76.0% | 10% | |
| Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management. | 57Estimated | 72.0% | 8% | |
| Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 8% | |
| Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience. | 62.1Observed | 51.8% | 10% | |
| Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature. | 46.35Observed | 45.5% | 5% | |
| Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards. | 47Estimated | 68.0% | 10% | |
| Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 8% | |
| Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences. | 68.33Observed | 54.3% | 10% | |
| Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 8% | |
| Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing. | 51.05Observed | 47.4% | 8% | |
| Demonstrate products to clients. | 33.33Observed | 28.3% | 3% | |
| Develop new food items for production, based on consumer feedback. | 58.75Observed | 50.5% | 8% | |
| Seek substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives, such as nitrites. | 46.67Observed | 45.7% | 4% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 31.7%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$85,310
per year
Mean Wage
$92,190
per year
Employment
14K
workers
Wage Range
$49,580 - $141,860
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Food Scientists and Technologists professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change