Turns harvested grapes into finished wine, directing fermentation, aging, blending and bottling at a winery. BLS does not publish separate figures for food science technicians; it counts them within food science technician (SOC 19-4013), whose median pay is $52,130 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-4013
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Winemaker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $52,130a year, or $25.06/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $79K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.8%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,00020,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202520.8K
- Projected 203521.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 20.8K Projected 2035 21.8K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school16.5%
- Some college12.4%
- Associate's23%
- Bachelor's32.3%
- Master's12.8%
- Doctorate1.2%
Highest education held by food science technicians Segment Value High school 16.5% Some college 12.4% Associate's 23% Bachelor's 32.3% Master's 12.8% Doctorate 1.2%
Also advertised as: Enologist, Head Winemaker, Assistant Winemaker, Cellar Master, Associate Winemaker.
Pay
How much do Food Science Technicians make?
Every winemaker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$52,130
Middle half earn $46,020 to $63,270
- 10th
- $39,820
- 25th
- $46,020
- 75th
- $63,270
- 90th
- $78,820
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,820 |
| 25th | $46,020 |
| Median | $52,130 |
| 75th | $63,270 |
| 90th | $78,820 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $52,130
- Median hourly wage
- $25.06/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $56,660
- People employed
- 14,600
Versus all US occupations
At $52,130, the median for Food Science Technicians sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 37% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $78,820 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,820, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 25% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Virginia posts the highest raw median ($65,360), but once local prices are taken into account Kentucky leads at $71,840 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Food Science Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Virginia | $65,360 | $64,646 | 150 |
| 2Kentucky | $64,770 | $71,840 | 160 |
| 3Washington | $62,070 | $58,002 | 660 |
| 4Vermont | $60,980 | $62,251 | 50 |
| 5Illinois | $60,820 | $60,846 | 290 |
| 6Missouri | $59,570 | $65,593 | 150 |
| 7Nevada | $59,070 | $59,082 | 110 |
| 8Colorado | $58,540 | $56,806 | 270 |
| 9Florida | $58,500 | $56,569 | 250 |
| 10Minnesota | $57,940 | $58,750 | 380 |
Job outlook
Is Winemaker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +4.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Food Science Technicians | +4.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Food Science Technicians to change 4.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,000 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,000 openings are projected each year, 14.4% of the 20,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Winemaker
Many winemakers hold a bachelor's or master's degree in viticulture and enology, food science, chemistry or microbiology, from programs such as UC Davis, Fresno State, Washington State, Cornell or Oregon State. Others learn on the job, starting as harvest interns or cellar workers and moving up to cellar master, assistant winemaker and winemaker.
Harvest internships, often at several wineries and sometimes in other countries, are the standard way to build experience. The American Society for Enology and Viticulture provides research and conferences. Wineries must hold a federal basic permit and operate as a bonded winery under the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as food science technicians.
- Bachelor's Degree32.3%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree23%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)16.5%
- Master's Degree12.8%
- Some College Courses12.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 32.3% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 23% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 16.5% |
| Master's Degree | 12.8% |
| Some College Courses | 12.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Winemaker do?
Winemakers guide wine from grape to bottle. During harvest they decide when to pick with the vineyard team, oversee crushing and pressing, choose yeasts and fermentation temperatures, and taste and test each tank daily. Afterward they manage aging in barrels or tanks, monitor for spoilage, and make decisions on racking, fining and filtration.
Much of the craft is blending: tasting lots side by side and combining them into a consistent, balanced wine. Winemakers also run the cellar lab or work with lab technicians on sugar, acid, alcohol and sulfur dioxide measurements, plan bottling, manage cellar crews, and keep the production records required for a federally bonded winery.
Day-to-day tasks
- Decide harvest timing with vineyard managers
- Direct crushing, pressing and fermentation
- Taste and test wines throughout fermentation and aging
- Manage barrel and tank aging programs
- Create final blends from individual lots
- Oversee filtration, stabilization and bottling
- Keep production and compliance records for the winery
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Winemakers work in wineries, cellars and labs, with regular time in vineyards. Harvest brings long days, weekends and physical work around tanks, hoses and barrels in cold, damp cellars. The rest of the year is steadier, with tasting, blending, planning and occasional sales and events. Small wineries often expect the winemaker to cover many roles, from cellar work to customer events.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Active Listening3.5
- Writing3.5
- Speaking3.5
- Science3.3
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Monitoring3.1
- Active Learning3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Science | 3.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Instructing3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Operations Monitoring2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Application server software
- Cloud-based management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Winemaker?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIA) built on O*NET's Food Science Technician profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Winemaker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.7
- Conventional4.8
- Investigative4.8
- Artistic2.4
- Enterprising2.0
- Social1.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Winemaker
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
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- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with food science technicians highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
- Winemaker$52,130
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
| Winemaker | $52,130 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Winemaker appears on
Questions
Winemaker: frequently asked questions
How much do Food Science Technicians make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for food science technicians. It counts them within food science technician, whose median pay is $52,130 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $46,020 and $63,270, and the top 10% earn $78,820 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Winemaker?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Food Science Technicians, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 32.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Winemaker a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.8% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Winemaker do?
Winemakers guide wine from grape to bottle. A typical task: decide harvest timing with vineyard managers. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Food Science Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Food Science Technicians are Virginia ($65,360), Kentucky ($64,770), Washington ($62,070) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Kentucky moves to the top at $71,840.
What personality type suits a Winemaker?
O*NET scores Food Science Technicians highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.