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QC tech (food science technician): pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$52,130median pay per year, or $25.06 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $39,820lowest 10% earn less
  2. $46,02025th percentile
  3. $52,130median
  4. $63,27075th percentile
  5. $78,820top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[6]

Food science technicians, who often go by the title QC tech, had a median pay of $52,130 a year in May 2025[1][2]. Their jobs are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.8%[3]
Openings per year
3,000[7]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[8]

How much do QC techs make?

In May 2025, the median pay for food science technicians was $52,130 a year, or $25.06 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $56,660 a year, or $27.24 an hour[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,820 a year, and the 90th percentile was $78,820[5]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

Level Yearly Hourly
10th percentile[5][11] $39,820 $19.14
25th percentile[5][11] $46,020 $22.12
Median[1] $52,130 $25.06
75th percentile[5][11] $63,270 $30.42
90th percentile[5][11] $78,820 $37.89

For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[6]. So the median here sat a little above that figure[1][6].

These numbers cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[12]. About 14,600 people held these jobs in May 2025[13].

Pay by state and city

BLS lists 38 states with published data[14]. Virginia had the top median at $65,360, followed by Kentucky at $64,770, Washington at $62,070, Vermont at $60,980 and Illinois at $60,820[14].

California had the most jobs at 3,990[15]. Texas (900), Oregon (820), Washington (660) and New Jersey (590) came next[15].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the top median at $79,850[16]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN followed at $66,630[16], then St. Louis, MO-IL at $66,230[16]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area had the most jobs at 970, with a median of $54,410[17].

Show median pay in 38 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Virginia[14]$65,360150
Kentucky$64,770160
Washington$62,070660
Vermont$60,98050
Illinois$60,820290
Missouri$59,570150
Nevada$59,070110
Colorado$58,540270
Florida$58,500250
Minnesota$57,940380
Maryland$57,880280
Ohio$57,060230
Massachusetts$56,850260
New Jersey$56,730590
Wisconsin$55,690540
New York$55,470580
California$54,2003,990
Georgia$53,150260
Michigan$52,130250
Mississippi$51,46050
Iowa$50,740420
Oregon$50,590820
Connecticut$49,700n/a
Idaho$48,980560
South Dakota$48,760100
North Carolina$48,640130
Nebraska$48,530170
Pennsylvania$48,060590
Texas$47,760900
Oklahoma$47,24050
Arkansas$46,810140
New Mexico$46,500120
Utah$45,11080
Indiana$44,630530
Louisiana$44,31030
Alabama$40,94030
Kansas$39,93060
South Carolina$39,48040

How to become a QC tech

Paths in vary, and the facts show more than one.

High school students can prepare with science and math classes, and internships can add practical experience[23][24].

In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 32% said a bachelor's degree is required, 23% said an associate's degree, 16% said a high school diploma or equivalent, 13% said a master's degree and 12% said some college courses[25].

The facts do not list any license or exam.

What QC techs do

These technicians help food scientists run standard tests on the physical and chemical properties of food and drink[26]. Common tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as QC tech, lab technician and quality analyst[2].

Where they work

In the BLS profile for the wider group, 45% worked in food manufacturing in 2025[28][20]. People in the group also work in laboratories, processing plants, farms, greenhouses and offices[29]. Plants and farm settings can bring noise, extreme temperatures or odors[29].

Protective gear such as hearing protection or gloves may be needed, and the work can mean lifting and long periods of activity. Travel may be required[30]. Full-time work is typical in the wider group, and some people put in more than 40 hours a week[31]. Schedules can include weekends and evenings[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 20,800 to 21,800 jobs, a gain of about 1,000[3]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[4].

About 3,000 openings a year are projected over those years[7]. Openings count people who retire or switch occupations as well as new jobs[7]. Each year, 2.1% of workers leave the labor force and 11.5% move to a different occupation[32].

BLS counts about 14,600 wage and salary jobs[13]. The projection counts include the self-employed, who made up 1.8% of workers in 2025[3][33].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with an associate's degree as the typical entry level[8]. Median pay was above the all-occupations median, and the 90th percentile reached $78,820[1][6][5]. Projected growth of 4.8% is ahead of the 3.5% for all occupations[3][4]. Day-to-day work centers on testing, record keeping and sample checks[27].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a food science technician make an hour?
In May 2025, the median was $25.06 an hour and the average was $27.24 an hour[1][9].
What degree do you need to be a food science technician?
BLS lists an associate's degree as typical for entry, plus moderate-term on-the-job training[8]. Some people enter with a high school diploma and related work experience[19].
Are food science technician jobs in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 3,000 openings a year[3][4][7].
What is the top paying state for food science technicians?
Virginia had the top median at $65,360, followed by Kentucky at $64,770[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Food Science Technicians in the US was $52,130 per year and $25.06 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. O*NET 19-4013.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Central Laboratory Technician (CLT), Food Science Tech (Food Science Technician), Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant), Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), QA Lab Tech (Quality Assurance Lab Technician), QC Tech (Quality Assurance Technician), QC Tech (Quality Control Technician), Quality Analyst. O*NET OnLine
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Food Science Technicians is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 20,800 to 21,800 jobs (a change of +1,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Food Science Technicians: 10th percentile $39,820, 25th percentile $46,020, 75th percentile $63,270, 90th percentile $78,820. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,000 openings for Food Science Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Food Science Technicians: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Food Science Technicians was $56,660 per year and $27.24 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Food Science Technicians: 10th percentile $19.14, 25th percentile $22.12, 75th percentile $30.42, 90th percentile $37.89. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 14,600 people were employed as Food Science Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. Median annual wage for Food Science Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Food Science Technicians jobs: California 3,990; Texas 900; Oregon 820; Washington 660; New Jersey 590. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Food Science Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $79,850; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $66,630; St. Louis, MO-IL $66,230; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $64,620; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $63,160; Napa, CA $61,430; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $61,410; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $60,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Food Science Technicians jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 970 (median $54,410); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 580 (median $60,020); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 420 (median $79,850); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 390 (median $50,900); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 350 (median $49,460); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 310 (median $60,980). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Agricultural and Food Science Technicians" covers Food Science Technicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 19-4013.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 32%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 23%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 16%, Master's Degree 13%, Some College Courses 12% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET description of Food Science Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Food Science Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of agricultural and food science technicians in 2025: Food manufacturing 45%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Food Science Technicians: 2.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 11.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections: 1.8% of Food Science Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.