Food safety scientist vs senior food scientist

The differences between food safety scientists and senior food scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a food safety scientist and a senior food scientist. Additionally, a food safety scientist has an average salary of $80,238, which is higher than the $72,882 average annual salary of a senior food scientist.

The top three skills for a food safety scientist include safety data, safety issues and drug safety. The most important skills for a senior food scientist are product development, culinary, and food processing.

Food safety scientist vs senior food scientist overview

	Food Safety Scientist	Senior Food Scientist
Yearly salary	$80,238	$72,882
Hourly rate	$38.58	$35.04
Growth rate	8%	8%
Number of jobs	106,128	92,996
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

What does a food safety scientist do?

A food safety scientist's responsibility is to improve food quality and packaging and to create new food products by developing excellent processing, storage, and transportation procedures with proper compliance with the health and safety standards. He/she is skilled at analyzing the nutritional food content, discovering new food sources, and researching safe and healthy food processing. In addition, this food scientist studies the microbiological, chemical, and physical properties of food and ingredients to ensure its safety for consumers.

What does a senior food scientist do?

As a senior food scientist, you need to study various properties of food to make sure that they are safe for eating. This is a very serious job, and you need to be sincere such that the food manufacturing standards of the company meet those made by the governmental institutions. You need to test food samples in a laboratory and make sure that the ingredients in the foods are safe for consumers.

You will be responsible for setting the food standards of the company. Moreover, you will also be in charge of working closely with other food production staff, including microbiologists as well as packaging specialists and buyers. To qualify for this position, an appropriate degree in Food Science or nutrition microbiology is required.

Food safety scientist vs senior food scientist salary

Food safety scientists and senior food scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Food Safety Scientist	Senior Food Scientist
Average salary	$80,238	$72,882
Salary range	Between $48,000 And $132,000	Between $43,000 And $120,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Chicago, IL
Highest paying state	California	Illinois
Best paying company	Genentech	The Coca-Cola Company
Best paying industry	-	Education

Differences between food safety scientist and senior food scientist education

There are a few differences between a food safety scientist and a senior food scientist in terms of educational background:

	Food Safety Scientist	Senior Food Scientist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Biology	Food Science
Most common college	Cornell University	Cornell University

Food safety scientist vs senior food scientist demographics

Here are the differences between food safety scientists' and senior food scientists' demographics:

	Food Safety Scientist	Senior Food Scientist
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 32.1% Female, 67.9%	Male, 52.8% Female, 47.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 12.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 12.3% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	19%	19%

Differences between food safety scientist and senior food scientist duties and responsibilities

Food safety scientist example responsibilities.

Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
Draft letters to the FDA and license partners regarding evaluation and reporting of adverse event reports.
Develop complete responses to FDA inquiries regarding investigational and market product safety which present accurate benefit-risk information and support company initiatives.
Used quantitative western blot to support selection of biomarkers specific to human dehydration.
Utilize FACS to study enrichment module separation efficiency and test various biomarkers by fluorescent imaging.
Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.

Senior food scientist example responsibilities.

Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
Work closely with local government agencies as well as USDA, GIPSA, FDA, USWA and CWB.
Participate on HACCP team for high acid beverages.
Maintain continuous improvement effort on HACCP system within manufacturing.
Key activities include process chemistry development, synthesis of intermediates, compound purification and structure identification, and comprehensive scientific documentation.
Develop an ELISA biosensor system that detects toxins in food.

Food safety scientist vs senior food scientist skills

Common food safety scientist skills

Safety Data, 13%
Safety Issues, 12%
Drug Safety, 10%
FDA, 8%
Study Reports, 7%
Food Safety, 7%

Common senior food scientist skills

Product Development, 16%
Culinary, 9%
Food Processing, 9%
Food Products, 8%
R, 8%
QA, 6%

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Food Safety Scientist vs Senior Food Scientist

Updated January 8, 2025

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