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Food scientist salary
Average food scientist salary
$74,345
Average Food Scientist Salary
The average annual salary for a food scientist is $74,345, or $36 per hour. This figure can vary based on factors such as experience, education, and geographical location. For instance, those with advanced degrees or specializations tend to command higher salaries.
Where Can Food Scientists Earn More?
Food scientists in states like California, Massachusetts, and New York often see higher compensation due to the demand for skilled professionals in these regions. Additionally, roles in sectors such as biotechnology and pharmaceuticals typically offer better pay than those in traditional food manufacturing.
Highest Paying Industries for Food Scientists
- Biotechnology: Focus on innovative food solutions.
- Pharmaceuticals: Involvement in drug formulation and food safety.
- Government: Research and regulation roles.
Individuals considering a career in food science should focus on developing strong analytical and laboratory skills, as these are highly valued in the industry. Continuous education and staying updated with food safety regulations can further enhance earning potential.
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Where can a Food Scientist earn more?
Food scientist salary estimates from across the web
Average food scientist salary by state
The highest-paying states for food scientists are Ohio, California, and Kansas. The lowest average food scientist salary states are North Carolina, Colorado, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for food scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $78,591 | $37.78 |
| 2 | Kansas | $81,792 | $39.32 |
| 3 | New York | $80,611 | $38.76 |
| 4 | Michigan | $77,793 | $37.40 |
| 5 | South Carolina | $79,649 | $38.29 |
| 6 | Ohio | $85,900 | $41.30 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $74,514 | $35.82 |
| 8 | Delaware | $73,144 | $35.17 |
| 9 | Illinois | $74,943 | $36.03 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $75,298 | $36.20 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $73,955 | $35.56 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $75,459 | $36.28 |
| 13 | Nevada | $76,085 | $36.58 |
| 14 | Maryland | $72,996 | $35.09 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $72,370 | $34.79 |
| 16 | Maine | $69,361 | $33.35 |
| 17 | California | $82,807 | $39.81 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $68,250 | $32.81 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $71,165 | $34.21 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $71,935 | $34.58 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $65,581 | $31.53 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $65,040 | $31.27 |
| 23 | Georgia | $71,432 | $34.34 |
| 24 | Utah | $68,705 | $33.03 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $61,678 | $29.65 |
| 26 | Iowa | $64,772 | $31.14 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $66,071 | $31.76 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $67,563 | $32.48 |
| 29 | Idaho | $66,760 | $32.10 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $67,854 | $32.62 |
| 31 | Alaska | $60,174 | $28.93 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $60,747 | $29.21 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $56,924 | $27.37 |
| 34 | Missouri | $61,992 | $29.80 |
| 35 | Washington | $67,267 | $32.34 |
| 36 | Oregon | $62,857 | $30.22 |
| 37 | Vermont | $58,759 | $28.25 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $71,804 | $34.52 |
| 39 | Virginia | $56,805 | $27.31 |
| 40 | Texas | $61,185 | $29.42 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $53,763 | $25.85 |
| 42 | Alabama | $59,734 | $28.72 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $58,937 | $28.34 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $50,731 | $24.39 |
| 45 | Arizona | $55,711 | $26.78 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $54,236 | $26.07 |
| 47 | Indiana | $50,764 | $24.41 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $55,065 | $26.47 |
| 49 | Colorado | $51,661 | $24.84 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $47,711 | $22.94 |
| 51 | Florida | $48,785 | $23.45 |
Highest paying cities for food scientists
The highest-paying cities for food scientists are Napa, CA, New York, NY, and Battle Creek, MI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa, CA | $89,313 | $42.94 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $80,733 | $38.81 |
| 3 | Battle Creek, MI | $76,761 | $36.90 |
| 4 | Niles, IL | $75,394 | $36.25 |
| 5 | Duluth, GA | $71,674 | $34.46 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,694 | $33.03 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $67,746 | $32.57 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $66,087 | $31.77 |
| 9 | Beloit, WI | $64,802 | $31.15 |
| 10 | Saint Louis, MO | $63,025 | $30.30 |
| 11 | Idaho Falls, ID | $62,366 | $29.98 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $61,285 | $29.46 |
| 13 | Greenville, NC | $55,086 | $26.48 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $51,480 | $24.75 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $50,652 | $24.35 |
| 16 | Tampa, FL | $48,948 | $23.53 |
Food scientist salary details
A food scientist's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $121,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a food scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $121,000 | $10,083 | $58 |
| 75th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| Average | $74,345 | $6,195 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
Highest paying food scientist jobs
The highest paying types of food scientists are senior scientist, scientist, and senior chemist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Control | $32,824 | $2,735 | $15.78 | 83,496 |
| Quality Control Chemist | $58,892 | $4,908 | $28.31 | 90,467 |
| Research Chemist | $75,843 | $6,320 | $36.46 | 53,769 |
| Research And Development Chemist | $77,233 | $6,436 | $37.13 | 100,225 |
| Chemist | $64,961 | $5,413 | $31.23 | 20,221 |
| Research And Development Scientist | $90,278 | $7,523 | $43.40 | 129,803 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for food scientists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Kimberley Cousins
John M. Pfau Endowed Professor and Department Chair, California State University San Bernardino
Top companies hiring food scientists now:
Which companies pay food scientists the most?
Food scientist salaries at LexisNexis Reed Tech and The Coca-Cola Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average food scientist salary at companies like Cargill and The Clorox Company are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LexisNexis Reed Tech | $111,745 | $53.72 |
| 2 | The Coca-Cola Company | $110,482 | $53.12 |
| 3 | Cargill | $106,943 | $51.41 |
| 4 | The Clorox Company | $102,114 | $49.09 |
| 5 | Colgate-Palmolive | $101,852 | $48.97 |
| 6 | WhiteWave Foods | $94,316 | $45.34 |
| 7 | Rich Products | $93,273 | $44.84 |
| 8 | National Starch And Chemical Holding Corporation | $92,899 | $44.66 |
| 9 | Conagra Brands | $92,657 | $44.55 |
| 10 | PepsiCo | $91,353 | $43.92 |
| 11 | Tyson Foods | $90,515 | $43.52 |
| 12 | Hillshire Brands | $90,357 | $43.44 |
| 13 | SDIX, LLC Marketing | $87,688 | $42.16 |
| 14 | General Mills | $87,009 | $41.83 |
| 15 | Utz Brands | $86,783 | $41.72 |
| 16 | Frito-Lay | $84,875 | $40.81 |
| 17 | Mead Johnson & Company LLC | $83,799 | $40.29 |
| 18 | Institute for Environmental | $83,792 | $40.28 |
| 19 | Kellogg | $83,359 | $40.08 |
| 20 | PGP International | $82,906 | $39.86 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Food Scientist salary by industry
The average food scientist salary varies across industries:
- The average food scientist salary in the education industry is $91,306, the highest of any industry.
- The average food scientist salary in the finance industry is $77,901.
- Food scientists in the retail industry earn an average salary of $70,202, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for food scientists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $91,306 | $43.90 |
| 2 | Health Care | $77,901 | $37.45 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $76,738 | $36.89 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $75,675 | $36.38 |
| 5 | Retail | $70,202 | $33.75 |
High paying food scientist jobs
Food scientist salary trends
The average food scientist salary has risen by $15,294 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average food scientist earned $59,051 annually, but today, they earn $74,345 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for food scientists over the last decade.
Compare food scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average food scientist salary over time
Compare food scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Food scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $74,300 | $35.74 | +6.1% |
| 2024 | $69,800 | $33.56 | +5.3% |
| 2023 | $66,100 | $31.78 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $64,400 | $30.98 | -0.5% |
| 2021 | $64,700 | $31.12 | -3.0% |
Recently added food scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Terra Fina | Food Scientist & Regulatory Lead | Union, LA | 06/30/2025 | $104,000 |
| Newly Weds Foods | Food Scientist I-Bakery Applications | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $73,000 |
| Ferrara Candy Company | Food Scientist, R&D-Global Brands | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $68,700 |
| Dawn Food Products | Food Scientist II | Louisville, KY | 06/22/2025 | $78,370 |
| David | Food Scientist | New York, NY | 06/13/2025 | $90,000 |
| Lassonde Pappas and Co Inc. | Food Scientist II-Beverage Manufacturing | Cherry Hill, NJ | 06/12/2025 | $95,000 |
| Eurofins Horti | Food Scientist | Lafayette, CO | 06/11/2025 | $70,000 |
| Magic Spoon | Food Scientist | New York, NY | 06/08/2025 | $70,000 |
| David | Food Scientist | New York, NY | 05/29/2025 | $90,000 |
| Simply Good | Food Scientist | El Segundo, CA | 05/29/2025 | $80,000 |
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