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Dairy processing technician

Also called dairy employee, dairy technician, dairy process technician

Dairy processing technicians supervise and coordinate production processes, operations, and maintenance workers in milk, cheese, ice cream and/or other dairy production plants. They assist food technologists in improving processes, developing new food products and establishing procedures and standards for production and packaging.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects27 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree. 7 in 10 train through vocational routes.Science and engineering associate professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Manufacturing supervisors · ILO

What you'd do

Manufacturing supervisors · ILO
  • Co-ordinating and supervising the activities of process control technicians, machine operators, assemblers and other manufacturing labourers
  • Organizing and planning the daily work with regard to plans, economy, staff and environment
  • Preparing cost estimates, records and reports
  • Identifying shortage of staff or components
  • Ensuring safety of workers
  • Instructing and training new staff
Schedule regular machine maintenanceOversee production requirementsFollow production scheduleMitigate waste of resourcesApply GMP+ 13 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines every day
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the related, broader US job "First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering associate professionals in the EU
7.4m7.3m7.49m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
142,000 new jobs 1,835,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering associate professionals27
All jobs29
Right now
7 of 27 countries report a shortage of manufacturing supervisors, 4 a surplus.
Manufacturing supervisors · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in food processing is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 41%Vocational 43%General secondary 7%Basic schooling 9%
Field that teaches it
Food processing
Vocational route, EU
7 in 10 trainees in this field
Engineering graduates in a matching job
73% in the EU

949 institutions in the EU offer engineering bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.35 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Preparing cost estimates, records and reports0.59
Organizing and planning the daily work with regard to plans, economy, staff and environment0.39
Instructing and training new staff0.36
Co-ordinating and supervising the activities of process control technicians, machine operators, assemblers and other manufacturing labourers0.27
Identifying shortage of staff or components0.24
Ensuring safety of workers0.24

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for manufacturing supervisors. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).