How to hire a food safety scientist

How to hire a food safety scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step food safety scientist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a food safety scientist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new food safety scientist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a food safety scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your food safety scientist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a food safety scientist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a food safety scientist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a food safety scientist that fits the bill.

   This list presents food safety scientist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Food Safety Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Food Safety Scientist	Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products.	$23-63
   Food Technologist	A food technologist is responsible for developing safe and healthy food products, managing convenient food manufacturing processes, and ensuring that the procedures adhere to internal guidelines and state regulations. Food technologists identify ways to improve food preservation methods, as well as strategizing in consumer-friendly packaging and distribution processes... Show more	$18-47
   Scientist	A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations... Show more	$32-67

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Data
   • Safety Issues
   • Drug Safety
   • FDA
   • Study Reports
   • Food Safety
   • Aggregate Safety Reports
   • Medical Review
   • Signal Detection
   • GLP
   • Argus
   • ICH
   • Clinical Trials
   • QC

   Check all skills

   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.

   More food safety scientist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your food safety scientist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A food safety scientist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, food safety scientists' average salary in colorado is 58% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level food safety scientists 64% less than senior-level food safety scientists.
   • Certifications. A food safety scientist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a food safety scientist's salary.

   Average food safety scientist salary

   $80,238yearly

   $38.58 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level food safety scientist salary

   $48,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 16, 2026

   Average food safety scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$117,929	$57
   2	New York	$92,848	$45
   3	Connecticut	$79,594	$38
   4	Massachusetts	$79,562	$38
   5	Delaware	$76,015	$37
   6	Illinois	$74,336	$36
   7	District of Columbia	$74,115	$36
   8	Michigan	$71,702	$34
   9	Pennsylvania	$70,362	$34
   10	Washington	$69,562	$33
   11	Kansas	$67,787	$33
   12	Minnesota	$67,187	$32
   13	Texas	$63,930	$31
   14	Missouri	$59,885	$29
   15	North Carolina	$55,797	$27

   Average food safety scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Genentech	$128,566	$61.81	44
   2	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$102,238	$49.15	3
   3	PTC Therapeutics	$102,098	$49.09	2
   4	Amgen	$101,716	$48.90	50
   5	PepsiCo	$97,387	$46.82	5
   6	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$97,314	$46.79	140
   7	AstraZeneca	$94,671	$45.51	18
   8	Mars	$94,377	$45.37	11
   9	PeroxyChem	$92,746	$44.59
   10	The Kraft Heinz Company	$92,291	$44.37	26
   11	Zoetis	$88,001	$42.31	19
   12	Integrated Resources	$85,893	$41.29	227
   13	OSI Group	$85,081	$40.90	1
   14	Exponent	$83,341	$40.07	39
   15	Geval6	$80,041	$38.48
   16	Eurofins	$79,613	$38.28	101
   17	Jack in the Box	$78,376	$37.68
   18	Dawn Foods Global	$76,197	$36.63	2
   19	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$76,188	$36.63	45
   20	United Therapeutics	$72,752	$34.98	4

4. Writing a food safety scientist job description

   A food safety scientist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a food safety scientist job description:

   Food safety scientist job description example

   SANITOR
   
   Lawrence, KS
   
   Competitive Starting Pay $18.53
   
   Non-traditional schedule consisting of four 10-hour shifts throughout the week
   
   Some overtime is required
   
   Why Smucker is the Place for You
   You deserve a positive and encouraging work environment. One that allows you to deliver your best work while enjoying each day. That is exactly what you will find at Smucker.Inspired by our unique culture, we are determined to support every employee as part of our commitment to be an employer of choice. Highlights include:Comprehensive benefits package effective first day of employment, including: medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan with up to 7% Company match, 3 weeks paid vacation, 12 paid company holidays plus 4 personal days, Parental leave, Perfect Attendance Bonus, and Annual Holiday BonusEnsuring a collaborative and friendly workplace - an environment you will look forward to coming into each day Your OpportunityAt Smucker, we view our manufacturing operations as the heart of our efforts to deliver food people and pets love. It is foundational to our commitment to provide safe, high-quality products our consumers count on for themselves and their families. With this, we believe passionately in promoting manufacturing as a career. That means ensuring continued growth and development opportunities to help you expand your skills while providing an enjoyable and supportive environment. In this role, you will:Sanitation and janitorial duties in support of the manufacturing of products such as Kibbles ‘n Bits, Gravy Train, and Ol' Roy. Activities include responding to upset sanitation events in the facility as well as performing routine sanitation and janitorial duties Ensure that pest control systems are operating effectively Provide input for addressing environmental food safety concerns of the facility The Right Role For YouAre you motivated by the chance to help provide quality products consumers count on every day? Are you interested in working with a collaborative team to get the job done while learning new skills? If so, you are exactly who we are looking for to join our Company!What we're looking for:High school diploma or equivalent required Experience in a food manufacturing environment and knowledge of process improvement preferred Proven mechanical or electrical aptitude preferred Ability to prioritize work in a fast paced, high speed manufacturing environmentA proven track record of good attendance and consistent performance delivering consistent safety and quality Capability to work well in a team environment and be willing to help solve problems and implement solutions Expectations:Able to operate, perform basic physical activities: climbing, standing, bending, twisting, and moving around stairs, ladders, platforms and various equipment Able to lift objects up to 65 pounds frequently Must be able to effectively read, comprehend, interpret, record, and apply information from documents Qualified candidates may be required to complete an assessment
   
   Learn More About Working at Smucker
   Thriving Together Philosophy Our Continued Progress on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Our Values That Define the Smucker Culture

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find food safety scientists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any food safety scientists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level food safety scientists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your food safety scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit food safety scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit food safety scientists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new food safety scientist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the food safety scientist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new food safety scientist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a food safety scientist?