by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Brewing Science explores A Program That Focuses On The Business, Science, And Technology Of Beer Brewing Operations. Includes Instruction In Biology, Biochemistry, Brewing, Entrepreneurship, Fermentation, Malting, Marketing, Microbiology, Quality Control, And Sanitation. Examples: [Sustainable Brewing]. Read on to learn the key facts every brewing science major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering brewing science programs.
Nationwide, brewing science is a popular field of study, with 118 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Brewing Science Schools ranking analyzes these 17 schools to determine the best overall colleges for brewing science students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of brewing science programs later in this article.
Programs in Brewing Science develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations brewing science graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a brewing science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a brewing science major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several brewing science degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 25 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 15 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 11 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 67 |
People currently working in careers related to brewing science tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 40.1% |
| Some college courses | 16.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 12.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 8.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.4% |
| Master’s degree | 2.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in brewing science careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying brewing science opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to brewing science.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to brewing science.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmakers | 383,602 | -3.6% |
| Food Science Technicians | 135,157 | 7.3% |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 132,731 | -4.5% |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | 76,219 | -4.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of brewing science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,828 |
| 4 years | $59,662 |
| 5 years | $68,842 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for brewing science graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers brewing science grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $55,930 |
| Food Batchmakers | $55,617 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $33,975 |
With 17 different brewing science programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased brewing science school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in brewing science, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Food Science | 1,581 |
| Viticulture and Enology | 268 |
| Food Science and Technology, Other | 132 |
| Food Technology and Processing | 96 |
| Zymology/Fermentation Science | 74 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
