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Food Science Technician

Agriculture

Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products. Includes technicians who assist in research and development of production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and use of foods.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

ScienceAgriculture

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.
  2. 2Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dimensions meet specifications.
  3. 3Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agencies.
  4. 4Monitor and control temperature of products.
  5. 5Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables.
  6. 6Record or compile test results or prepare graphs, charts, or reports.
  7. 7Prepare or incubate slides with cell cultures.
  8. 8Perform regular maintenance of laboratory equipment by inspecting, calibrating, cleaning, or sterilizing.
  9. 9Examine chemical or biological samples to identify cell structures or to locate bacteria or extraneous material, using a microscope.
  10. 10Conduct standardized tests on food, beverages, additives, or preservatives to ensure compliance with standards and regulations regarding factors such as color, texture, or nutrients.
  11. 11Mix, blend, or cultivate ingredients to make reagents or to manufacture food or beverage products.
  12. 12Train newly hired laboratory personnel.
  13. 13Provide assistance to food scientists or technologists in research and development, production technology, or quality control.
  14. 14Supervise other food science technicians.
  15. 15Compute moisture or salt content, percentages of ingredients, formulas, or other product factors, using mathematical and chemical procedures.
  16. 16Order supplies needed to maintain inventories in laboratories or in storage facilities of food or beverage processing plants.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • CLT
  • QC Tech
  • Lab Tech
  • Food Tech
  • Dairy Tech
  • QA Analyst
  • Test Baker
  • Beer Brewer
  • Flavor Tech
  • Food Taster

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

AgricultureDraws directly on Food Production — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Home Science (SRT)Draws directly on Food Production — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Production and Processing — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Mechanical Engineering StudiesDraws directly on Production and Processing — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
ChemistryDraws directly on Chemistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Food Production75%

    AgricultureHome Science (SRT)

  • Production and Processing74%

    Design & Technology (RBT)Mechanical Engineering Studies

  • Chemistry69%

    Chemistry

  • English Language69%

    English

  • Computers and Electronics63%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Biology62%

    BiologyAdditional Science

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentEvery day

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

11%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Growing role in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Food Science Technicians

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue