Graduates of food science degree programs have the potential to make a lot of money in the food industry, research and development, and government agencies. Penn State food scientists have a variety of career opportunities available to them in the United States and around the world. The high demand for food scientists means that many Penn State Food Science graduates have job offers before they even graduate, with excellent starting salaries. Food Science graduates can look forward to exciting and rewarding careers. To learn more about some of these people, visit this page.
Food scientists often earn salaries that are competitive with other science and engineering degrees. Most have successfully found a job or gained admission to graduate school within months of graduating. Food scientists study the sources and composition of foods, and apply research results to products found in supermarkets every day. Brian Thane, a member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and director of aseptic technology at Tetra Park, talks about supplying aseptic packaging to 170 countries, the interesting and rewarding aspects of his work, and his contribution to the food science profession. You can also work as a sensory scientist, which is a technical way of describing how you spend your days tasting, analyzing, and refining foods such as chocolate and tea blends.
This represents constant growth in the field, especially for those working on the development of new foods and on food security. The field of food science is always advancing and adapting, so you're not likely to find yourself in trouble. Food is the foundation of the world's largest industry, and although employment growth in the coming years is not spectacular, according to a recent survey conducted by the IFT, a student who just left school with a B. S. degree can expect an average starting salary of $50,000 per year. New processes are in demand to develop and package food for consumers and government agencies such as the military and NASA.
Research in food science leads to new food products, a safer food chain, advances in nutrition, and innovative methods for feeding global populations. Follow Michele Perchonok, a member of the IFT and former manager of Advanced Food Technology at NASA, as well as members of the food science team as they guide us through their work in the Space Food Systems Laboratory and describe their role in conceptualizing and preparing food for successful missions in space. The IFT has partnered with Disney Consumer Products (DCP) to increase visibility for careers in food science and demonstrate the profession's innovative potential for developing healthy and nutritious foods. Food manufacturers hire food scientists for research and development, product development, and management.
