Agricultural and Food Science Technicians

Summary

Agricultural and food science technicians measure and analyze the quality of food and agricultural products under the supervision of related scientists.

Quick Facts: Agricultural and Food Science Technicians
2010 Median Pay	$32,760 per year $15.75 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Associate’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	21,300
Job Outlook, 2010-20	7% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	1,500

What Agricultural and Food Science Technicians Do

Under the supervision of scientists, agricultural and food science technicians measure and analyze the quality of food and agricultural products.

Work Environment

Agricultural and food science technicians work in offices, laboratories, and in processing plants.

How to Become an Agricultural or Food Science Technician

Agricultural and food science technicians typically need an associate’s degree in animal science or a related field. Technicians who have only a high school diploma typically get more on-the-job training than those with an associate’s degree.

Pay

The median annual wage of agricultural and food science technicians was $32,760 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of agricultural and food science technicians is expected to grow by 7 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of agricultural and food science technicians with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about agricultural and food science technicians by contacting these additional resources.

What Agricultural and Food Science Technicians Do About this section

Technicians test food, food additives, and food containers to ensure they comply with established safety standards.

Under the supervision of scientists, agricultural and food science technicians measure and analyze the quality of food and agricultural products. 

Duties

Specific duties of these technicians vary, depending on their specialty.

Agricultural technicians typically do the following:

• Follow protocols to prepare, analyze, and store crop or animal samples properly
• Examine animals and other specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems
• Measure ingredients used in testing or animal feed and other purposes
• Compile and analyze test results that go into charts, presentations, and reports
• Prepare and operate complex equipment to do laboratory tests

Food science technicians typically do the following:

• Prepare samples following established procedures
• Test food, food additives, and food containers to ensure they comply with established safety standards
• Help food scientists with food research, development, and quality control
• Analyze chemical properties of food to determine ingredients and formulas
• Compile and analyze test results that go into charts, presentations, and reports
• Keep a safe, sterile laboratory environment

Agricultural technicians who work in private industry focus on the condition of crops and animals, not on processed foods. These workers may prepare samples for analyses, ensure that samples meet proper safety standards, and test crops and animals for disease.

Food science technicians who work in private industry inspect food and crops, including processed food, to ensure the product is fit for distribution. A large portion of food science technicians’ time is spent inspecting foodstuffs, chemicals, and additives to determine whether they are safe and have the proper combination of ingredients.

Agricultural and food science technicians who work for the federal government monitor regulatory compliance for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Agriculture, and other agencies. As a result of the recent passage of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, the frequency of food inspections has increased, along with improvements in performance standards.

Work Environment About this section

Agricultural and food science technicians work in offices, laboratories, and processing plants.

Agricultural and food science technicians held about 21,300 jobs in 2010. The following industries employed the largest number of agricultural and food science technicians in 2010:

Technicians work in a variety of settings including offices, laboratories, and in processing plants. Technicians who work in processing plants may face unpleasant working conditions, such as noise from processing machinery.

How to Become an Agricultural or Food Science Technician About this section

Agricultural and food science technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in animal science or a related field.

Agricultural and food science technicians typically need an associate’s degree in animal science or a related field. Technicians who have only a high school diploma typically get more on-the-job training than do those with a college degree.

Education and Training

People interested in this occupation should take as many high school science and math classes as possible. A solid background in applied chemistry, physics, and math is vital.

Agricultural and food science technicians typically need an associate’s degree in animal science or a related field from an accredited college or university. While in college, prospective technicians learn through a combination of classroom and hands-on learning, such as an internship.

A background in the biological sciences is important for food and agricultural technicians. Students should take courses in biology, chemistry, animal science, and agricultural engineering as part of their programs. Many schools offer internships, cooperative-education, and other experiential programs designed to enhance employment prospects.

Technicians with a high school diploma usually complete an extensive training program under the supervision of a more-experienced technician. These training programs can last a year or more.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Agricultural and food science technicians must conduct a variety of observations and on-site measurements, all of which require precision and accuracy.

Critical-thinking skills. Agricultural and food science technicians reach conclusions through sound reasoning and judgment. They determine how to improve food quality and must test products for a variety of safety standards.

Interpersonal skills. Agricultural and food science technicians need to work well with others. They may supervise agricultural and food science workers and receive instruction from scientists or specialists, so effective communication is critical.

Listening skills. Agricultural and food science technicians must follow instructions given to them by food scientists and agricultural engineers.

Speaking skills. Agricultural and food science technicians must give clear instructions to field and laboratory workers, who typically perform the tasks necessary for food quality testing.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of agricultural and food science technicians was $32,760 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,730, and the top 10 percent earned more than $52,600.

Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest number of agricultural and food science technicians in May 2010 were as follows:

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of agricultural and food technicians is expected to grow by 7 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Increased awareness and enforcement of food safety regulations will increase inspection requirements and, therefore, demand for agricultural and food science technicians.

Most growth over the next 10 years is expected to be in federal food inspection jobs. Jobs in private industry will also grow, but at a more modest rate.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about agricultural and soil science occupations, including certification, visit

Soil Science Society of America

For more information about food and animal science occupations, including certifications, visit  

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists