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Food chemist salary
Average food chemist salary
$62,727
Understanding Food Chemist Salaries
A food chemist typically earns an average of $62,727 per year in the United States. This figure represents the baseline, with variations based on factors such as geographic location, company size, and years of experience. For instance, food chemists in states like California and New York often report higher salaries due to a higher cost of living and greater demand for specialized skills.
In addition, those in senior roles or with advanced degrees may command salaries significantly above the average. Entry-level positions can start around $50,000, while experienced food chemists in managerial roles may earn upwards of $80,000 annually. The industry also plays a role; sectors such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology tend to offer higher compensation compared to traditional food manufacturing.
For prospective food chemists, networking and continuous education are vital for career advancement. Attending industry conferences, joining professional organizations, and pursuing relevant certifications can enhance job prospects and salary potential. Explore job listings to find opportunities that align with your skills and goals.
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Where can a Food Chemist earn more?
Food chemist salary estimates from across the web
Average food chemist salary by state
The average food chemist salary in Delaware, Washington, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average food chemist salary states are Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for food chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $87,164 | $41.91 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $77,206 | $37.12 |
| 3 | Michigan | $73,747 | $35.46 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $71,997 | $34.61 |
| 5 | Washington | $83,541 | $40.16 |
| 6 | Vermont | $83,151 | $39.98 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $69,745 | $33.53 |
| 8 | Missouri | $68,983 | $33.16 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $73,771 | $35.47 |
| 10 | Indiana | $64,463 | $30.99 |
| 11 | Maryland | $72,997 | $35.09 |
| 12 | Ohio | $67,315 | $32.36 |
| 13 | South Carolina | $63,640 | $30.60 |
| 14 | Iowa | $63,707 | $30.63 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $66,416 | $31.93 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $72,964 | $35.08 |
| 17 | Alaska | $66,258 | $31.85 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $83,624 | $40.20 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $63,372 | $30.47 |
| 20 | Montana | $64,658 | $31.09 |
| 21 | Virginia | $69,935 | $33.62 |
| 22 | Kansas | $62,369 | $29.99 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $62,941 | $30.26 |
| 24 | Texas | $67,281 | $32.35 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $64,936 | $31.22 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $63,849 | $30.70 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $62,388 | $29.99 |
| 28 | Nevada | $63,166 | $30.37 |
| 29 | Utah | $64,141 | $30.84 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $54,882 | $26.39 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $54,821 | $26.36 |
| 32 | Idaho | $62,170 | $29.89 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $57,958 | $27.86 |
| 34 | Georgia | $59,151 | $28.44 |
| 35 | California | $58,838 | $28.29 |
| 36 | Arizona | $57,297 | $27.55 |
| 37 | Maine | $53,280 | $25.62 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $51,549 | $24.78 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $56,730 | $27.27 |
| 40 | Oregon | $56,545 | $27.19 |
| 41 | Colorado | $61,338 | $29.49 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $49,342 | $23.72 |
| 43 | Illinois | $58,367 | $28.06 |
| 44 | Alabama | $55,484 | $26.68 |
| 45 | New York | $53,736 | $25.83 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $44,197 | $21.25 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $51,639 | $24.83 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $46,953 | $22.57 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $51,786 | $24.90 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $52,957 | $25.46 |
| 51 | Florida | $38,498 | $18.51 |
Highest paying cities for food chemists
The highest-paying cities for food chemists are Vancouver, WA, Olympia, WA, and Yakima, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver, WA | $83,797 | $40.29 |
| 2 | Olympia, WA | $83,714 | $40.25 |
| 3 | Yakima, WA | $82,909 | $39.86 |
| 4 | Lyndhurst, NJ | $77,191 | $37.11 |
| 5 | Battle Creek, MI | $73,036 | $35.11 |
| 6 | Lake, MI | $72,372 | $34.79 |
| 7 | Sidney, OH | $66,739 | $32.09 |
| 8 | Dayton, OH | $66,472 | $31.96 |
| 9 | Hammond, IN | $64,648 | $31.08 |
| 10 | Dalzell, SC | $64,204 | $30.87 |
| 11 | Eddyville, IA | $63,401 | $30.48 |
| 12 | New Haven, CT | $62,515 | $30.06 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $58,509 | $28.13 |
| 14 | Oxnard, CA | $57,442 | $27.62 |
| 15 | Cerritos, CA | $57,070 | $27.44 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $53,850 | $25.89 |
| 17 | Blair, NE | $52,100 | $25.05 |
Food chemist salary details
A food chemist's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $87,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a food chemist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| Average | $62,727 | $5,227 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
Highest paying food chemist jobs
The highest paying types of food chemists are senior research chemist, senior chemist, and analytical research chemist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research And Development Chemist | $77,233 | $6,436 | $37.13 | 100,225 |
| Analytical Research Chemist | $81,763 | $6,814 | $39.31 | 62,289 |
| Quality Assurance Chemist | $59,242 | $4,937 | $28.48 | 66,457 |
| Chemist, Development | $71,571 | $5,964 | $34.41 | 57,547 |
| Analytical Chemist | $61,573 | $5,131 | $29.60 | 14,661 |
| Environmental Chemist | $56,956 | $4,746 | $27.38 | 22,234 |
Top companies hiring food chemists now:
Which companies pay food chemists the most?
Food chemist salaries at Cargill and Goldbelt Falcon are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average food chemist salary at companies like United Food Group and Kellogg are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cargill | $81,913 | $39.38 |
| 2 | Goldbelt Falcon | $74,004 | $35.58 |
| 3 | United Food Group | $62,338 | $29.97 |
| 4 | Kellogg | $61,542 | $29.59 |
| 5 | T. Hasegawa USA | $59,736 | $28.72 |
| 6 | Washington State University | $57,898 | $27.84 |
| 7 | Kelly Services | $56,840 | $27.33 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Food chemist salary trends
The average food chemist salary has risen by $7,546 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average food chemist earned $55,181 annually, but today, they earn $62,727 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for food chemists over the last decade.
Compare food chemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average food chemist salary over time
Compare food chemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Food chemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $62,700 | $30.16 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $61,400 | $29.52 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $60,800 | $29.24 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $59,100 | $28.42 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $58,300 | $28.04 | +3.4% |
Recently added food chemist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargill, Inc. | Food Safety Quality Chemist | Watkins Glen, NY | 05/15/2025 | $62,000 |
| Cargill, Inc. | Food Safety, Quality Chemist 2025 | Minneapolis, MN | 03/14/2025 | $65,000 |
| Cargill Meat Solutions | Food Safety, Quality Chemist 2025 | Bloomington, MN | 02/18/2025 | $65,000 |
| Cargill | Food Safety, Quality Chemist 2025 | Minneapolis, MN | 02/12/2025 | $65,000 |
| Cargill Meat Solutions | Food Safety, Quality Chemist 2025 | Minneapolis, MN | 12/09/2024 | $65,000 |
| Cargill Meat Solutions | Food Safety, Quality Chemist 2025 | Minneapolis, MN | 09/25/2024 | $65,000 |
| Cargill Meat Solutions | Food Safety, Quality Chemist 2025 | Minneapolis, MN | 09/11/2024 | $65,000 |
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