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Job outlook for food safety scientists in the United States
Are food safety scientist jobs in demand?
Food safety scientist job and salary trends over time
Food safety scientist jobs over time
Food safety scientist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 413 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 400 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 412 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 408 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 460 | 0.00% |
Average food safety scientist salary over time
Food safety scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $80,238 | $38.58 | +6.5% |
| 2025 | $75,344 | $36.22 | +5.6% |
| 2024 | $71,335 | $34.30 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $69,544 | $33.43 | --0.5% |
| 2022 | $69,860 | $33.59 | --2.9% |
Food safety scientist jobs by state
Most common states for food safety scientists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,795 | 26% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 180 | 26% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 230 | 24% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 179 | 24% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 199 | 23% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,713 | 20% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,129 | 19% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 256 | 19% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 121 | 19% |
| 10 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 555 | 18% |
| 11 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 133 | 18% |
| 12 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 104 | 18% |
| 13 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,486 | 17% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 181 | 17% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 583 | 16% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,867 | 15% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,519 | 15% |
| 18 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 629 | 15% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 318 | 15% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 161 | 15% |
Most common cities for food safety scientists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $79,414 |
| 2 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $72,598 |
| 3 | Durham | 1 | 0% | $55,797 |
Food Safety Scientist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of food safety scientist experts
Quinnipiac University
Doverspike Consulting/HR LItehouse
Robert Morris University
Brigham Young University – Idaho
Tiffin University
University of Maine
Washington State University
What general advice would you give to a Food Safety Scientist?
Dr. Peiyi Shen: - The field of food science is ever-evolving. It is very important to keep up-to-date with the latest research, technologies, and trends in both the food industry and academia. They are suggested to attend workshops, conferences, and/or pursue related certifications or advanced degrees. - Building professional relationships can open doors to more opportunities. Joining professional organizations such as the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and participating in industry events provide excellent opportunities to meet people in the same area. - They are encouraged to seek more hand-on and practical experience. For example, internships, co-op programs, and entry-level positions can provide valuable hands-on experience. This can also help you determine which area of food science you are most passionate about. - The food industry is fast-paced and can change rapidly due to the new regulations, consumer trends, and technological advancements. Being flexible and open to change is helpful.
What Food Safety Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Peiyi Shen: - *Data Analysis and Computational Skills:* As big data and AI become increasingly important and popular, being proficient in data analysis, machine learning, and using software like Python can be highly valuable. - *Sustainability Practices:* Knowledge of sustainable food production, waste reduction, and environmental impact will be crucial as the industry moves towards greener practices.
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical SciencesQuinnipiac University
Microbiological Sciences And Immunology
What Food Safety Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.: The first and foremost would be Critical Thinking. We live in a world where facts can be easily acquired, sometimes even by asking Siri/Alexa/ChatGPT/Google/etc. But critical thinking is timeless and priceless. I can ask anyone on the street what xyz is and they can look it up, but can they provide advice or interpret.
Also being a good steward towards science and being willing and able to communicate not just with peers as we are trained, but also with the public, the politicians, the board members. John Holdren*, stated that Scientists should be tithing at least 10 percent of their time to public service ... including activism. In the ever growing science denialism that is happening in our country being able to communicate science with the public is important. As Peter Hotaz states, "Anti-science propaganda is "killing Americans in unprecedented numbers,""
*Holdren is an American scientist who served as the senior advisor to President Barack Obama on science and technology issues through his roles as assistant to the president for science and technology, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and a Research Professor in Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government
What type of skills will young Food Safety Scientists need?
Dennis Doverspike Ph.D.: Seemingly a paradox, there will continue to be a need for very general, but highly fungible, skills and demand for too specialized skills, requiring advanced education. Coding, statistics, and data analysis related skills will remain a hot growth area. The aging of the baby boomers will create demand for medical and healthcare-related regions, especially nursing, nursing aides, and emergency services. Despite the automation of many people facing jobs, there will continue to be a demand for interpersonal and people skills, including various types of sales. The switch to remote work, due to COVID, will create a substantial future market to fill the leadership and managerial skills gap. In many areas of Technology and engineering, it is already challenging to find a combination of technical knowledge and people skills, and this demand will intensify.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Food Safety Scientists to find work opportunities?
Paul Badger Ph.D.: Any area of the U.S. that has current or projected population growth, like the southern Atlantic states and the Rocky Mountain regions, will have an increased demand for biology graduates in a variety of occupations.
Nels Hansen Ph.D.
Department ChairBrigham Young University – Idaho
Department of Applied Plant Science
What experience really stands out on Food Safety Scientist resumes?
Nels Hansen Ph.D.: I think that the following areas stand out to employers when they review a resume. Students who acquire real-world experience in one or more (and hopefully more) of the following will likely have their resumes rise to the top.
-Irrigation planning and system management.
-Safe chemical handling and application.
-Pest identification and management.
-Soil and plant testing combined with plant nutrient recommendations.
-Data gathering, power, and analysis.
-Verbal fluency in Spanish.
Sami Mejri Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Science, Assistant Dean, Graduate ProgramsTiffin University
School of Arts & Sciences
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Food Safety Scientists to find work opportunities?
Sami Mejri Ph.D.: With the rising cost of living, a college graduate's ideal first job may not be in their home state or favorite vacation town. According to Business Insider, MidWestern cities like Columbus-Ohio, Cincinnati-Ohio, Madison-Wisconsin, Milwaukee-Wisconsin, and Indianapolis-Indiana were some of the best geographical areas to live for college graduates. The cost of living in these Midwestern states remains relatively lower than coastal areas, making these locations ideal for college graduates entering the workforce. However, college graduates with degrees in healthcare, computer science, and data analytics may not be limited to these geographical areas, given employers' incentives to these in-demand jobs.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Food Safety Scientists in the next 3-5 years?
Scott Johnson: Computer programming to process large data sets, big data analytics, machine learning, remote sensing data, and incorporating them into more complex systems models are all gaining significant traction. Jobs that involve traditional field skills and mapping are becoming fewer. In contrast, jobs requiring someone to manage large amounts of remotely acquired ground, airborne, or satellite data in high spatial and temporal resolution with moderate amounts of ground truth data are becoming more prevalent. Field data are still incredibly important, but the goal is to upscale our observations across broader areas faster, more efficiently, and more accurately-the ability to use sensors properly to collect data. Learning a foreign language may open doors for some students who want to travel.
Joe Harrison
Animal Scientist and Extension SpecialistWashington State University
Department of Animal Sciences
How do you envision technology impacting Food Safety Scientists in the next 5 years?
Joe Harrison: Technology is and will continue to change how cows are managed; having data instantly at your fingertips will help make more informed decisions. Examples are activity monitors and robotic milkers.