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The differences between food preparers and associate food scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an associate food scientist has an average salary of $43,865, which is higher than the $27,717 average annual salary of a food preparer.
The top three skills for a food preparer include food handling, work ethic and food products. The most important skills for an associate food scientist are quality food, food products, and customer service.
| Food Preparer | Associate Food Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $27,717 | $43,865 |
| Hourly rate | $13.33 | $21.09 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 134,113 | 160,215 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 23 | 23 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A food preparer or food preparation worker is the person who executes routine tasks under the supervision of chefs, food service managers, and cooks. Food preparation workers slice meat, cut vegetables, and prepare cold foods. They prepare ingredients of food for recipes as they assist cooks and chefs. Their duties and responsibilities include sifting, marinating, food safety, grating, and knife skills. They are also expected to weigh and measure dry and liquid ingredients.
An associate food scientist is primarily responsible for developing new recipes for a company, ensuring quality and marketability. They are also responsible for improving existing recipes, performing support tasks for a head scientist, conducting market research and analysis, monitoring the progress of projects, and maintaining all recipes' data and records, including nutrition value and ingredients. Furthermore, there are instances when an associate food scientist must manage the packaging and storing processes of food, ensuring consumers' health and safety.
Food preparers and associate food scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Food Preparer | Associate Food Scientist | |
| Average salary | $27,717 | $43,865 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $37,000 | Between $35,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | Commack, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Mount Sinai Health System | Emory University |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a food preparer and an associate food scientist in terms of educational background:
| Food Preparer | Associate Food Scientist | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between food preparers' and associate food scientists' demographics:
| Food Preparer | Associate Food Scientist | |
| Average age | 23 | 23 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.6% Female, 53.4% | Male, 48.7% Female, 51.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |