Best states for a senior food scientist

Q: What is the best state for senior food scientists?

The best state to be a senior food scientist is New Jersey based on senior food scientist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for senior food scientists?

The highest paying state for senior food scientists is Colorado based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for senior food scientists?

The worst state for senior food scientists is Florida, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Darrell Cockburn Ph.D.

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It seems like senior food scientists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for senior food scientists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for senior food scientist jobs.

In order to get you the best states for senior food scientists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a senior food scientist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for senior food scientists in 2026

1. New Jersey
Total senior food scientist jobs: 1,496
Average annual salary: $80,207
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000
Location Quotient:
1.54
Senior food scientist jobs in New Jersey
2. Illinois
Total senior food scientist jobs: 1,530
Average annual salary: $84,422
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Senior food scientist jobs in Illinois
3. Maryland
Total senior food scientist jobs: 1,144
Average annual salary: $77,802
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000
Location Quotient:
1.48
Senior food scientist jobs in Maryland
4. Montana
Total senior food scientist jobs: 186
Average annual salary: $73,316
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000
Location Quotient:
1.32
Senior food scientist jobs in Montana
5. New York
Total senior food scientist jobs: 2,014
Average annual salary: $77,455
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Senior food scientist jobs in New York
6. South Carolina
Total senior food scientist jobs: 582
Average annual salary: $76,555
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Senior food scientist jobs in South Carolina
7. Ohio
Total senior food scientist jobs: 1,150
Average annual salary: $82,742
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Senior food scientist jobs in Ohio
8. Connecticut
Total senior food scientist jobs: 495
Average annual salary: $74,420
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Senior food scientist jobs in Connecticut
9. New Hampshire
Total senior food scientist jobs: 235
Average annual salary: $73,791
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Senior food scientist jobs in New Hampshire
10. Rhode Island
Total senior food scientist jobs: 148
Average annual salary: $75,187
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000
Location Quotient:
1
Senior food scientist jobs in Rhode Island

Senior food scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior food scientist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a senior food scientist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Jersey	$80,207	$49,000	9,005,644	1,496
2	Illinois	$84,422	$52,000	12,802,023	1,530
3	Maryland	$77,802	$47,000	6,052,177	1,144
4	Montana	$73,316	$45,000	1,050,493	186
5	New York	$77,455	$47,000	19,849,399	2,014
6	South Carolina	$76,555	$45,000	5,024,369	582
7	Ohio	$82,742	$50,000	11,658,609	1,150
8	Connecticut	$74,420	$46,000	3,588,184	495
9	New Hampshire	$73,791	$46,000	1,342,795	235
10	Rhode Island	$75,187	$46,000	1,059,639	148
11	Delaware	$71,644	$43,000	961,939	208
12	Nevada	$72,914	$41,000	2,998,039	261
13	Maine	$68,856	$43,000	1,335,907	201
14	Pennsylvania	$68,110	$41,000	12,805,537	1,759
15	Michigan	$69,752	$43,000	9,962,311	974
16	Massachusetts	$74,326	$46,000	6,859,819	1,093
17	Tennessee	$68,309	$41,000	6,715,984	655
18	California	$78,293	$44,000	39,536,653	2,203
19	Kansas	$64,460	$39,000	2,913,123	398
20	New Mexico	$62,382	$36,000	2,088,070	294
21	Georgia	$68,697	$41,000	10,429,379	1,044
22	Oklahoma	$68,436	$41,000	3,930,864	278
23	Wyoming	$58,384	$35,000	579,315	100
24	Utah	$65,411	$38,000	3,101,833	357
25	Mississippi	$58,667	$35,000	2,984,100	290
26	Hawaii	$66,319	$50,000	1,427,538	120
27	Idaho	$62,732	$36,000	1,716,943	194
28	Vermont	$58,204	$36,000	623,657	116
29	Nebraska	$63,942	$40,000	1,920,076	234
30	Iowa	$61,123	$38,000	3,145,711	413
31	South Dakota	$53,604	$34,000	869,666	211
32	Wisconsin	$55,890	$35,000	5,795,483	796
33	District of Columbia	$69,969	$42,000	693,972	81
34	Minnesota	$60,774	$39,000	5,576,606	784
35	Alaska	$55,335	$32,000	739,795	159
36	Oregon	$59,228	$33,000	4,142,776	506
37	Washington	$62,322	$36,000	7,405,743	767
38	Virginia	$55,117	$33,000	8,470,020	1,494
39	Texas	$58,833	$35,000	28,304,596	2,049
40	Missouri	$54,568	$33,000	6,113,532	740
41	North Carolina	$51,935	$31,000	10,273,419	1,425
42	Louisiana	$56,887	$33,000	4,684,333	348
43	Alabama	$57,517	$34,000	4,874,747	407
44	Arizona	$53,448	$31,000	7,016,270	691
45	North Dakota	$47,694	$31,000	755,393	135
46	Indiana	$48,432	$29,000	6,666,818	801
47	Kentucky	$51,778	$31,000	4,454,189	396
48	Arkansas	$52,645	$31,000	3,004,279	243
49	West Virginia	$46,125	$28,000	1,815,857	179
50	Colorado	$41,457	$25,000	5,607,154	705
51	Florida	$46,806	$27,000	20,984,400	1,753

Highest paying states for senior food scientists

Rank	State	Avg. Senior Food Scientist Salary
1	New Jersey	$80,207
2	Illinois	$84,422
3	Maryland	$77,802
4	Montana	$73,316
5	New York	$77,455
6	South Carolina	$76,555
7	Ohio	$82,742
8	Connecticut	$74,420
9	New Hampshire	$73,791
10	Rhode Island	$75,187
11	Delaware	$71,644
12	Nevada	$72,914
13	Maine	$68,856
14	Pennsylvania	$68,110
15	Michigan	$69,752
16	Massachusetts	$74,326
17	Tennessee	$68,309
18	California	$78,293
19	Kansas	$64,460
20	New Mexico	$62,382
21	Georgia	$68,697
22	Oklahoma	$68,436
23	Wyoming	$58,384
24	Utah	$65,411
25	Mississippi	$58,667
26	Hawaii	$66,319
27	Idaho	$62,732
28	Vermont	$58,204
29	Nebraska	$63,942
30	Iowa	$61,123
31	South Dakota	$53,604
32	Wisconsin	$55,890
33	District of Columbia	$69,969
34	Minnesota	$60,774
35	Alaska	$55,335
36	Oregon	$59,228
37	Washington	$62,322
38	Virginia	$55,117
39	Texas	$58,833
40	Missouri	$54,568
41	North Carolina	$51,935
42	Louisiana	$56,887
43	Alabama	$57,517
44	Arizona	$53,448
45	North Dakota	$47,694
46	Indiana	$48,432
47	Kentucky	$51,778
48	Arkansas	$52,645
49	West Virginia	$46,125
50	Colorado	$41,457
51	Florida	$46,806

Expert opinions on the best states for senior food scientists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior food scientists to find work opportunities?
Darrell Cockburn Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Food Science, Pennsylvania State University
Food Science is a remarkably stable field for graduates to find employment in as it is a relatively recession-proof industry; even at the worst of times, people still need to eat. Places with vital food industries, particularly with large companies, will be the best to weather the storm. Here in Pennsylvania, we have a robust food processing industry, and our Food Science graduates have continued to be successful in finding employment.

Senior food scientist best states FAQs

What is the best state for senior food scientists?

What is the highest paying state for senior food scientists?

What is the worst state for senior food scientists?

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Senior Food Scientist
Best states for Senior Food Scientists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total senior food scientist jobs:	1,496
Average annual salary:	$80,207
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$49,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$130,000
Location Quotient:	1.54

Best states for a senior food scientist

10 best states for senior food scientists in 2026

1. New Jersey

2. Illinois

3. Maryland

4. Montana

5. New York

6. South Carolina

7. Ohio

8. Connecticut

9. New Hampshire

10. Rhode Island