Laboratory Food Technicians

Laboratory food technicians play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and quality of food products consumed globally. By conducting vital tests and analyses, they help uphold public health standards and drive innovation in the food industry, making this a crucial position in the ever-evolving landscape of food science.

Laboratory Food Technicians

18

Biological Sciences

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO18%moving to58%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSC
STARTING PAY£22,000 - £28,000
REGULATORY MOATThe law requires human oversight. That human could be you.
This job holds up well against AI
AI cannot yet do much of what this job actually involves, and the law requires human oversight. That human could be you. That is about as safe as careers get right now, though it is still worth learning to use the tools well.

Career progression path

1FIRST STEPJunior Laboratory Food TechnicianIn this entry-level role, you will assist in conducting tests and preparing samples under the supervision of senior technicians. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a laboratory setting.£22,000 - £28,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-Level Laboratory Food TechnicianAs a mid-level technician, you will take on more complex testing and analysis tasks, contribute to research projects, and mentor junior staff. Your expertise will be crucial in ensuring product quality.£30,000 - £38,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Laboratory Food TechnicianIn this senior role, you will lead laboratory teams, oversee testing protocols, and liaise with regulatory bodies. Your leadership will drive innovation and ensure the highest standards of food safety.£40,000+
There is more than one way in

You do not have to go the university route to get here. There is an apprenticeship route into this career. There is also a vocational route that skips a degree entirely.

Careermash

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AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

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