O*NET-SOC 19-1012.00 / model V11 rated-task engine

Will AI replace
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.

Estimated AI task exposure

82%

Very High exposure

V11 weights occupation tasks using O*NET Importance, Relevance and Frequency ratings instead of treating every task equally.

13 tasks have usable Task Rating records; weighted-task coverage is 100%.

Digital/info work

83/100

Physical moat

28/100

Human moat

20/100

Rating coverage

100%

13 task statements / 13 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.

Importance 80/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 61/100Weight 0.83

Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.

Importance 84/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 46/100Weight 0.81

Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.

Importance 80/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 51/100Weight 0.80

Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.

Importance 75/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 49/100Weight 0.78

Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.

Importance 75/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 44/100Weight 0.77

Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards.

Importance 73/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 47/100Weight 0.77

Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.

Importance 75/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 40/100Weight 0.76

Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.

Importance 78/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 31/100Weight 0.75

Develop new food items for production, based on consumer feedback.

Importance 70/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 39/100Weight 0.72

Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.

Importance 68/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 32/100Weight 0.71

Task weighting

Each rated task receives a composite weight: 38% relevance, 37% importance and 25% frequency. Core tasks receive a small additional multiplier. Low-precision rows flagged by O*NET for suppression are excluded.

Occupation scoring

When rating coverage is strong, rated tasks contribute 60% of the digital, physical and human task signals and Work Activities contribute 40%. Lower-coverage occupations automatically rely more on Work Activities.

U.S. labor market

BLS Wage & Employment Outlook

Median annual wage

$88,720

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

13,060

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

+6.2%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

1

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

BLS labor-market figures are separate from the site's AI-exposure model. Missing values mean a compatible detailed BLS occupation estimate was not published or could not be mapped.

Career pivot radar

Safer Career Alternatives

These options are selected from the same 923-occupation model. They favor a similar task/work profile with meaningfully lower estimated AI exposure. They are suggestions for exploration, not guarantees of job fit.

SAFER ALTERNATIVE