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Associate food scientist salary
Average associate food scientist salary
$43,865
Average Associate Food Scientist Salary
The average salary for an Associate Food Scientist in the United States is approximately $43,865 annually or about $21 per hour. This compensation reflects entry-level positions within the industry, which can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities.
Salary Variations by State
In states like California and New York, salaries tend to be higher due to the cost of living and demand for food scientists. For example, the highest paying states often include:
- California
- New York
- Texas
- Florida
Additionally, metropolitan areas often present the best opportunities for higher salaries. Cities such as San Francisco and New York are known for offering competitive pay rates to attract skilled professionals.
Career Advancement Opportunities
As you gain experience, you might find opportunities to advance into roles such as Food Scientist or Senior Food Scientist. These positions typically command higher salaries and may involve more complex projects and responsibilities.
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Where can an Associate Food Scientist earn more?
Average associate food scientist salary by state
The average associate food scientist salary in New Hampshire, New York, and Michigan are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average associate food scientist salary states are Nebraska, Illinois, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for associate food scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $48,554 | $23.34 |
| 2 | Iowa | $44,228 | $21.26 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $48,991 | $23.55 |
| 4 | Michigan | $46,034 | $22.13 |
| 5 | Delaware | $43,446 | $20.89 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $43,212 | $20.77 |
| 7 | Arizona | $43,608 | $20.97 |
| 8 | Oregon | $45,203 | $21.73 |
| 9 | Ohio | $42,252 | $20.31 |
| 10 | Colorado | $43,039 | $20.69 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $40,479 | $19.46 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $40,244 | $19.35 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $42,232 | $20.30 |
| 14 | Idaho | $42,217 | $20.30 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $45,248 | $21.75 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $41,541 | $19.97 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $38,281 | $18.40 |
| 18 | Missouri | $41,206 | $19.81 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $37,148 | $17.86 |
| 21 | Maine | $38,895 | $18.70 |
| 22 | Indiana | $38,128 | $18.33 |
| 23 | Texas | $38,147 | $18.34 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $45,249 | $21.75 |
| 25 | Vermont | $39,965 | $19.21 |
| 26 | Washington | $42,182 | $20.28 |
| 27 | Maryland | $39,063 | $18.78 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $36,541 | $17.57 |
| 29 | Montana | $38,077 | $18.31 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $39,972 | $19.22 |
| 31 | Florida | $37,763 | $18.16 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $38,312 | $18.42 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $36,113 | $17.36 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $37,695 | $18.12 |
| 35 | Alabama | $37,434 | $18.00 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $38,696 | $18.60 |
| 37 | Nevada | $37,862 | $18.20 |
| 38 | Georgia | $37,282 | $17.92 |
| 39 | Alaska | $35,825 | $17.22 |
| 40 | Virginia | $35,384 | $17.01 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $36,599 | $17.60 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $34,438 | $16.56 |
| 43 | Illinois | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $35,466 | $17.05 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $35,492 | $17.06 |
| 46 | California | $38,662 | $18.59 |
| 47 | Kansas | $34,178 | $16.43 |
| 48 | Utah | $34,523 | $16.60 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $35,345 | $16.99 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $35,208 | $16.93 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $34,569 | $16.62 |
Highest paying cities for associate food scientists
The highest-paying cities for associate food scientists are New York, NY, Washington, DC, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $48,591 | $23.36 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $45,316 | $21.79 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $45,077 | $21.67 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $43,574 | $20.95 |
| 5 | Wilmington, DE | $43,542 | $20.93 |
| 6 | New Haven, CT | $43,276 | $20.81 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $42,987 | $20.67 |
| 8 | Meridian, ID | $42,249 | $20.31 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $42,140 | $20.26 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $41,256 | $19.83 |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | $40,004 | $19.23 |
| 12 | Rochester, MN | $39,889 | $19.18 |
| 13 | Fargo, ND | $39,192 | $18.84 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $39,145 | $18.82 |
| 15 | Camarillo, CA | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| 16 | Green Bay, WI | $38,402 | $18.46 |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $38,153 | $18.34 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,056 | $18.30 |
| 19 | Billings, MT | $38,038 | $18.29 |
| 20 | Charleston, SC | $37,530 | $18.04 |
Associate food scientist salary details
An associate food scientist's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $54,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an associate food scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| Average | $43,865 | $3,655 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying associate food scientist jobs
The highest paying types of associate food scientists are associate, food handler, and fast food cashier.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew Member | $28,946 | $2,412 | $13.92 | 239,413 |
| Cook/Server | $29,716 | $2,476 | $14.29 | 257,582 |
| Kitchen Staff | $29,816 | $2,485 | $14.33 | 154,513 |
| Food Preparer | $27,717 | $2,310 | $13.33 | 134,113 |
| Food Runner | $25,536 | $2,128 | $12.28 | 240,853 |
| Food Clerk | $29,967 | $2,497 | $14.41 | 113,838 |
Top companies hiring associate food scientists now:
Which companies pay associate food scientists the most?
Associate food scientist salaries at Emory University and Plumrose USA are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average associate food scientist salary at companies like Catholic Health East and Mars are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emory University | $54,976 | $26.43 |
| 2 | Plumrose USA | $50,559 | $24.31 |
| 3 | Catholic Health East | $48,014 | $23.08 |
| 4 | Mars | $47,058 | $22.62 |
| 5 | Yale New Haven Health | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| 6 | HARMON's Photo | $45,789 | $22.01 |
| 7 | Hospital Sisters Health System | $45,405 | $21.83 |
| 8 | Saint Francis Health System | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| 9 | KIND Snacks | $44,440 | $21.37 |
| 10 | CookUnity | $44,297 | $21.30 |
| 11 | Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales, LLC | $44,297 | $21.30 |
| 12 | Brock Group | $44,294 | $21.30 |
| 13 | Eurofins | $44,175 | $21.24 |
| 14 | MaineGeneral Health | $43,862 | $21.09 |
| 15 | Wonton Food | $43,034 | $20.69 |
| 16 | Peapod | $42,981 | $20.66 |
| 17 | Conagra Brands | $42,160 | $20.27 |
| 18 | Meijer | $42,037 | $20.21 |
| 19 | Bozeman Health | $41,188 | $19.80 |
| 20 | Northwell Health | $40,705 | $19.57 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Associate Food Scientist salary by industry
The average associate food scientist salary varies across industries:
- The average associate food scientist salary in the health care industry is $47,462, the highest of any industry.
- The average associate food scientist salary in the finance industry is $45,098.
- Associate food scientists in the hospitality industry earn an average salary of $35,737, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for associate food scientists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $47,462 | $22.82 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $45,098 | $21.68 |
| 3 | Retail | $39,299 | $18.89 |
| 4 | Hospitality | $35,737 | $17.18 |
High paying associate food scientist jobs
Associate food scientist salary trends
The average associate food scientist salary has risen by $9,911 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average associate food scientist earned $33,954 annually, but today, they earn $43,865 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for associate food scientists over the last decade.
Compare associate food scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average associate food scientist salary over time
Compare associate food scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Associate food scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,900 | $21.09 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $41,800 | $20.11 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | $39,600 | $19.03 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | $37,600 | $18.07 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $36,200 | $17.41 | +2.7% |
Recently added associate food scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosie's Place | Food Pantry Associate | Boston, MA | 06/27/2025 | $52,175 |
| Johns Hopkins Medicine | Associate II-Patient Food Svcs | Bethesda, MD | 06/24/2025 | $38,756 |
| Southern Adventist University | Bulk Foods Associate-Village Market | Collegedale, TN | 06/21/2025 | $34,289 |
| Craft a Better Career | Food & Beverage Associate I | Fine, NY | 06/19/2025 | $50,088 |
| Craft a Better Career | Food & Beverage Associate II | San Francisco, CA | 06/19/2025 | $50,088 |
| City of South Bend, In | Golf Food & Beverage Associate--Elbel | South Bend, IN | 06/18/2025 | $25,253 |
| Avolta | Food & Beverage Associate | New Windsor, NY | 06/13/2025 | $32,349 |
| Rockford Park District | Food & Beverage Associate-Sportscore Two | Rockford, IL | 06/12/2025 | $31,305 |
| Midwest Petroleum Company | Food Truck Associate | Noel, MO | 06/04/2025 | $31,305 |
| Guthrie North America Inc. | Dietary Associate-Food and Nutrition | Binghamton, NY | 05/28/2025 | $35,479 |
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