Best Food Science Technician programs in Wisconsin, ranked by enrollment
Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products.
32 schools in Wisconsin run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,493 people a year. The job pays a median of $55,690 in Wisconsin across about 540 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Wisconsin that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
8 programs in Wisconsin that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Wisconsin (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Wisconsin page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 26.0101In Wisconsin → | 1,599 | 64.1% | 28 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | CIP 40.0501In Wisconsin → | 376 | 15.1% | 23 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 3 | CIP 26.0202In Wisconsin → | 279 | 11.2% | 11 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 4 | CIP 26.0502In Wisconsin → | 116 | 4.7% | 3 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 5 | CIP 01.1001In Wisconsin → | 102 | 4.1% | 4 | $51,883 | $21,000 |
| 6 | CIP 01.1099In Wisconsin → | 17 | 0.7% | 2 | $51,883 | $21,000 |
| 7 | CIP 01.1002In Wisconsin → | 3 | 0.1% | 2 | $51,883 | $21,000 |
| 8 | CIP 01.1003In Wisconsin → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $51,883 | $21,000 |
Top 25 schools in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 19 of the 32 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 6 feeder programs | 1,008 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $35,798 | 90% | — | 45% |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - La Crosse La Crosse, WI Public · 4 feeder programs | 290 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,823 | 71% | — | 76% |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 108 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $34,507 | 64% | — | 82% |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI Public · 4 feeder programs | 108 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,215 | 49% | — | 91% |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI Public · 3 feeder programs | 82 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $33,100 | 51% | — | 92% |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 81 | Food Science | — | 55% | — | 88% |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 74 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $35,752 | 56% | — | 89% |
| 8 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 73 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $28,555 | 83% | $25,376 | 81% |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 73 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $38,331 | 59% | — | 86% |
| 10 | Saint Norbert College De Pere, WI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 71 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $31,734 | 71% | $23,319 | 86% |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 71 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $38,530 | 46% | — | 87% |
| 12 | Lawrence University Appleton, WI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 55 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 77% | $19,788 | 64% |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin - Parkside Kenosha, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 50 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $35,990 | 40% | — | 75% |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 48 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $29,947 | 48% | — | 89% |
| 15 | Carthage College Kenosha, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 44 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $37,903 | 64% | $22,844 | 87% |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI Public · 3 feeder programs | 44 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $34,762 | 57% | — | 82% |
| 17 | Carroll University Waukesha, WI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 29 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $43,188 | 71% | $22,601 | 67% |
| 18 | Edgewood University Madison, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 25 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $51,134 | 60% | $23,822 | 76% |
| 19 | Beloit College Beloit, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 23 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 71% | $21,381 | 63% |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin - Superior Superior, WI Public · 3 feeder programs | 23 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,160 | 42% | — | 93% |
| 21 | Ripon College Ripon, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 22 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $43,250 | 63% | $19,267 | 80% |
| 22 | Mount Mary University Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 21 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 43% | $18,836 | 62% |
| 23 | Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 19 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 64% | $19,138 | 78% |
| 24 | Viterbo University La Crosse, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 13 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 68% | $20,655 | 72% |
| 25 | Lakeland University Plymouth, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 10 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 42% | $20,767 | 86% |
All 32 schools in Wisconsin
Every school in Wisconsin with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin - Madison | Madison | Public | 1,008 | 6 |
| University of Wisconsin - La Crosse | La Crosse | Public | 290 | 4 |
| University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire | Eau Claire | Public | 108 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Public | 108 | 4 |
| University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point | Public | 82 | 3 |
| University of Wisconsin - Stout | Menomonie | Public | 81 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Platteville | Platteville | Public | 74 | 2 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 73 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Whitewater | Whitewater | Public | 73 | 2 |
| Saint Norbert College | De Pere | Private not-for-profit | 71 | 3 |
| University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | Oshkosh | Public | 71 | 2 |
| Lawrence University | Appleton | Private not-for-profit | 55 | 3 |
| University of Wisconsin - Parkside | Kenosha | Public | 50 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Green Bay | Green Bay | Public | 48 | 2 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private not-for-profit | 44 | 2 |
What food science technicians earn in Wisconsin
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $52,130. Wisconsin pays above the national figure.
Concentrated here: Wisconsin employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.
Metro areas in Wisconsin
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Food Science Technicians page.
How to become a Food Science Technician
Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Wisconsin
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 10 majors mapped to Food Science Technicians10 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 01.0401Agricultural and Food Products Processing
- 01.1001Food Science
- 01.1002Food Technology and Processing
- 01.1003Brewing Science
- 01.1005Zymology/Fermentation Science
- 01.1099Food Science and Technology, Other
- 26.0101Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- 26.0202Biochemistry
- 26.0502Microbiology, General
- 40.0501Chemistry, General
Common questions
Answers for people weighing food science technicians programs in Wisconsin.
What degree do you need to become a Food Science Technician?+
Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 1,599 degrees in Wisconsin in 2024-25, 64.1% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Food Science Technician?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 8 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Science and Technology, plus 1 more. Together they graduate about 2,493 people a year in Wisconsin.
How much do food science technicians earn in Wisconsin?+
The median is $55,690 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 6.8% above the U.S. median of $52,130. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for food science technicians growing?+
BLS projects a +4.8% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 3,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Wisconsin?+
32 institutions in Wisconsin reported graduates from at least one of the 8 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do food science technicians work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), Central Laboratory Technician (CLT), QC Tech (Quality Control Technician), Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-4013.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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