# SOC 19-1012: Food Scientists and Technologists

> Occupation profile: https://www.xh1b.org/soc/19-1012

Employers submitted 6,621 certified H-1B applications for Food Scientists and Technologists (19-1012) roles, requesting 7,306 workers. The average offered wage is $74,967/yr, 16% below the BLS national median ($88,720/yr). (2025, SOC 19-1012) The largest filers are Kerry Inc., David Oppenheimer & Company I, LLC and Kellogg North America Company LLC.

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total filings | 6,621 |
| Total workers | 7,306 |
| Average offered wage | $75K |
| Average prevailing wage | $63K |
| BLS median wage | $89K |
| Latest BLS year in scope | 2025 |
| Profile benchmark SOC | 19-1012 |
| BLS area | U.S. |

Filing wage badges use the latest national BLS median. Their detail shows the benchmark code and year. A mapped comparator can use a different occupation from the direct-code profile benchmark above. It is a screening comparison, not a claim that the occupations are identical.

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Offered vs BLS benchmark | -16% |

## Top employers (of 2,038)

| Employer | Filings | Workers | Avg wage | BLS median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Kerry Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/kerry-inc-e9edb6b5d7) | 162 | 163 | $77K | $89K |
| [David Oppenheimer & Company I, LLC](https://www.xh1b.org/org/david-oppenheimer-company-i-llc-424e03dfc9) | 109 | 145 | $53K | $89K |
| [Kellogg North America Company LLC](https://www.xh1b.org/org/kellogg-north-america-company-llc-5c30d7b46a) | 93 | 93 | $82K | $89K |
| [General Mills, Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/general-mills-inc-4ede371b12) | 80 | 83 | $80K | $89K |
| [Novitium Pharma LLC.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/novitium-pharma-llc-dc05db3543) | 77 | 77 | $47K | $89K |
| [PepsiCo, Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/pepsico-inc-398a2e4643) | 70 | 70 | $91K | $89K |
| [Impossible Foods Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/impossible-foods-inc-4e3b7a07af) | 64 | 64 | $91K | $89K |
| [Nestle R&D CENTER, Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/nestle-rd-center-inc-497338cd33) | 54 | 54 | $79K | $89K |
| [Leprino Foods Company](https://www.xh1b.org/org/leprino-foods-company-65a828440c) | 52 | 52 | $96K | $89K |
| [University of California, Davis](https://www.xh1b.org/org/university-of-california-davis-dee872196e) | 49 | 49 | $54K | $89K |

## Filing trend

| Year | Filings | Workers | Median offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 6 | 6 | $41K |
| 2010 | 93 | 93 | $56K |
| 2011 | 453 | 455 | $55K |
| 2012 | 382 | 398 | $63K |
| 2013 | 328 | 345 | $62K |
| 2014 | 410 | 420 | $58K |
| 2015 | 416 | 447 | $65K |
| 2016 | 443 | 454 | $64K |
| 2017 | 472 | 482 | $65K |
| 2018 | 528 | 552 | $63K |
| 2019 | 538 | 558 | $70K |
| 2020 | 404 | 430 | $75K |
| 2021 | 454 | 600 | $75K |
| 2022 | 419 | 640 | $86K |
| 2023 | 332 | 477 | $88K |
| 2024 | 356 | 356 | $87K |
| 2025 | 414 | 414 | $90K |
| 2026 | 62 | 62 | $93K |

## State filing trends (2015 to 2026)

| State | Total filings | 2026 filings | 2026 filings per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| [California](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ca) | 1,183 | 8 | 0.0 |
| [New Jersey](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nj) | 537 | 8 | 0.1 |
| [Illinois](https://www.xh1b.org/state/il) | 496 | 4 | 0.0 |
| [New York](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ny) | 378 | 6 | 0.0 |
| [Wisconsin](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wi) | 230 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Texas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/tx) | 213 | 3 | 0.0 |
| [Michigan](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mi) | 168 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [Minnesota](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mn) | 165 | 3 | 0.1 |
| [Ohio](https://www.xh1b.org/state/oh) | 164 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [Pennsylvania](https://www.xh1b.org/state/pa) | 157 | 3 | 0.0 |
| [Washington](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wa) | 145 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Georgia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ga) | 126 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [Massachusetts](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ma) | 122 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Missouri](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mo) | 119 | 3 | 0.0 |
| [Colorado](https://www.xh1b.org/state/co) | 108 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [North Carolina](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nc) | 105 | 3 | 0.0 |
| [Florida](https://www.xh1b.org/state/fl) | 87 | 3 | 0.0 |
| [Idaho](https://www.xh1b.org/state/id) | 85 | 4 | 0.2 |
| [Utah](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ut) | 81 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Maryland](https://www.xh1b.org/state/md) | 77 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Iowa](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ia) | 73 | 2 | 0.1 |
| [Oregon](https://www.xh1b.org/state/or) | 66 | 4 | 0.1 |
| [Indiana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/in) | 60 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Virginia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/va) | 58 | 3 | 0.0 |
| [Kansas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ks) | 48 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Arkansas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ar) | 47 | 2 | 0.1 |
| [Arizona](https://www.xh1b.org/state/az) | 45 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Connecticut](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ct) | 42 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [South Carolina](https://www.xh1b.org/state/sc) | 39 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [Tennessee](https://www.xh1b.org/state/tn) | 38 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Nebraska](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ne) | 35 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Mississippi](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ms) | 33 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [South Dakota](https://www.xh1b.org/state/sd) | 31 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [North Dakota](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nd) | 29 | 1 | 0.1 |
| [Kentucky](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ky) | 27 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Vermont](https://www.xh1b.org/state/vt) | 19 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Delaware](https://www.xh1b.org/state/de) | 18 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Oklahoma](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ok) | 13 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Hawaii](https://www.xh1b.org/state/hi) | 12 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Louisiana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/la) | 11 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Rhode Island](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ri) | 10 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [New Mexico](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nm) | 9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Alabama](https://www.xh1b.org/state/al) | 8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Maine](https://www.xh1b.org/state/me) | 6 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [New Hampshire](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nh) | 6 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [District of Columbia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/dc) | 5 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Alaska](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ak) | 4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Nevada](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nv) | 4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Montana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mt) | 2 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Puerto Rico](https://www.xh1b.org/state/pr) | 2 | 0 | 0.0 |


Per 100k residents uses the U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimate for that state and year; years after the latest published estimate carry that estimate forward. The latest filing year may be a partial period.

## More

- Full page (charts, tables, interactive): https://www.xh1b.org/soc/19-1012
- JSON API: https://www.xh1b.org/api/soc-employers?code=19-1012
- JSON API: https://www.xh1b.org/api/soc-filings?code=19-1012


## References

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1. Dataset documentation · DOL OFLC. [LCA public disclosure record layout (FY2026 Q3)](https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/oflc/pdfs/FY26Q3/LCA_Record_Layout_FY2026_Q3.pdf). Pages 1–4: application, DOL outcome and dates, requested positions, employer, representatives, worksites and pay units. This layout covers determinations issued October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. It documents employer-provided application fields and DOL decisions, not USCIS decisions, payroll verification, legal bills or worker-linked moves. Older layouts can differ. Checked 2026-10-17.

<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-bls-data"></a>

2. Dataset documentation · BLS. [OEWS technical notes (May 2025)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oes_tec.htm). Scope of the survey; occupational coding; concepts and estimation methodology. Documents occupation and geographic wage estimates, not an individual worker’s pay. Use the estimate year and geography stated by the site; older releases can differ. Checked 2026-10-17.

<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-soc-system"></a>

3. Guidance · BLS. [Standard Occupational Classification](https://www.bls.gov/soc/finding_soc_code.htm). Classification Principles 1–2 and Coding Guideline 2; job duties, not job titles. Checked 2026-10-08.

<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-calculation-method"></a>
<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-indicators-method"></a>

4. XH1B method or registry · XH1B. [Calculation and Matching Methods; Reading Public Records and Derived Indicators](https://www.xh1b.org/data-sources). Filing units, annualization, weighting, wage comparisons, and inference limits; Reading records: units, source coverage, wage gaps, entity links, and inference limits. These are the site's review methods, not validated predictions of wrongdoing. Inspect underlying records and alternative explanations.