Agricultural and food scientists draw on diverse disciplines to study what we eat

January 15, 2010

Agricultural and food scientists draw on diverse disciplines to study what we eat

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Outlook: Employment of agricultural and food scientists is expected to increase 16 percent over the 2008-18 decade, faster than the average for all occupations.

Pay: The 80 agricultural and food scientists in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area earned a median wage of $41,650 in 2008.

The job: Agricultural scientists study farm crops and animals and develop ways of improving their quantity and quality. Food scientists use their knowledge of chemistry, physics, engineering, microbiology, biotechnology and other sciences to develop new or better ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing and delivering foods.

Training/licensing: Most jobs in the farming and food processing industry require a bachelor’s degree, but a master's or doctoral degree is usually required for research positions at universities. Degrees in related sciences such as biology, chemistry or physics or in related engineering specialties may qualify people for many agricultural science jobs.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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