The U.S. Department of Labor has developed an automated occupational information database, O*NET, that identifies and describes work content, work skills, and training requirements for all jobs across the country in all sectors of the economy. Much of the occupational information contained in this report is derived directly from the O*NET database, and supplemented with information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, and Labor Market and Career Information.
| Industry | % of Food Scientists and Technologists employed | Annual Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Other food manufacturing | 14.3 | 1.68 |
| Scientific research and development services | 10 | 0.65 |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | 7.2 | 0.87 |
| Dairy product manufacturing | 5.9 | 0.00 |
| Animal slaughtering and processing | 5.4 | 1.18 |
| Fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty food manufacturing | 5 | 0.00 |
| Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing | 4.3 | 0.00 |
| Beverage manufacturing | 3.9 | 1.55 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools | 3.7 | 0.00 |
| Grain and oilseed milling | 2.4 | 0.00 |
| Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | 2.3 | 0.00 |
| 2024 Statewide average hourly wage | $44.26 |
| 2024 National average hourly wage | $44.32 |
| 2022 National employment | 15,300 |
| 2022 Texas employment | 967 |
| Texas projected employment by 2032 | 1,170 |
| Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 | 102 |
| Region | Employment | Projected Employment 2032 | Projected Annual Openings 2032 |
Annual Growth Rate |
Average Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas (all regions) | 967 | 1,170 | 102 | 1.92% | $92,069.00 |
| Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas | Relevant Importance Levels |
|---|---|
| Food Production Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques. |
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| Biology Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. |
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| Chemistry Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods. |
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| Production and Processing Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
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| English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
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| Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
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| Engineering and Technology Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. |
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| Education and Training Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
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| Physics Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes. |
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| Public Safety and Security Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. |
| Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas | Relevant Importance Levels |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
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| Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
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| Writing Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
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| Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
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| Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
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| Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
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| Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
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| Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
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| Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
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| Science Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. |
| Top 10 Relevant Abilities | Relevant Importance Levels |
|---|---|
| Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. |
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| Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
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| Written Comprehension The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
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| Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
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| Inductive Reasoning The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). |
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| Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
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| Information Ordering The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
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| Category Flexibility The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. |
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| Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
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| Written Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |