Food Science and Technologyat University of California-Davis
Graduates earn $52,084/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Food Science and Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $606K; scenarios range from $557K to $614K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Davis
The strong outcomes for UC Davis Food Science graduates are no accident; you're looking at a world-class program located in the heart of one of the planet's most productive agricultural regions. Your education won't be confined to a classroom. The program is deeply integrated with California's Central Valley, giving you direct access to internships and research opportunities with global food giants, cutting-edge food-tech startups in the Bay Area, and world-renowned wineries in nearby Napa and Sonoma. This isn't just a degree; it's an entry point into a powerful regional industry hub. Recruiters from companies like E. & J. Gallo, Mars, and Nestlé know this program well, creating a direct pipeline to high-impact roles in product development, quality assurance, and sustainable agriculture. Your key move: leverage the program's required internship to specialize in a high-growth area like plant-based proteins or food safety technology.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UC Davis's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Food Science and Technology
How UC Davis stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Davis
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Davis, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Food Science and Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Food Science and Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Food Science and Technology at UC Davis
How does University of California-Davis's Food Science and Technology program score?
This program scores 61/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Food Science and Technology graduates.