Also called: Baking Scientist, Milling Scientist
Studies wheat, oats, rice, and other grains to make better flour, bread, pasta, and cereal.
A cereal scientist mills test batches of wheat, bakes loaves in a test kitchen, and measures dough strength with lab instruments. Kansas State has one of the few grain science programs in the world.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in grain science, food science, or chemistry.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Grain Science and Industry, Food Science, Chemistry.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 19-1012: Faster than average (5% to 6%).
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps predict flour and dough quality; milling and baking trials stay hands-on.
Classes: Chemistry, Biology, Baking or culinary.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1012.
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