As of October 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Food Scientist I in the United States is $34, which translates to an annual salary of about $70,983.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
Food Scientist I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $77,712 | $6,476 | $1,494 | $37 |
| Average | $70,983 | $5,915 | $1,365 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,950 | $5,496 | $1,268 | $32 |
A Food Scientist I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Food Scientist I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Food Scientist I | 0-2 years | $70,983 |
| Food Scientist II | 2-4 years | $83,788 |
| Food Scientist III | 4-7 years | $101,256 |
| Food Scientist IV | 7+ years | $128,771 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 4.84% |
| New Product Development | 2.25% |
| Technical Support | 1.57% |
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Food Scientist I's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Team Development | $90,148 | |
| Business Acumen | $88,729 | |
| Interpersonal Communication | $88,019 |
Food Scientist I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $79,080. While startup companies pay approximate $66,966.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $66,966 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $70,805 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $76,361 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $79,080 |
Understanding how a Food Scientist I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $77,712 | $6,476 | $1,494 | $37 |
| Average | $70,983 | $5,915 | $1,365 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,950 | $5,496 | $1,268 | $32 |
Salaries for a Food Scientist I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $79,242 in 2023 to around $78,796 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Food Scientist I salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $79,242 |
| 2024 | $79,567 |
| 2025 | $78,796 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
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|
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Conducts scientific research activities to create, improve, and evaluate food products, ingredients, and processing methods. Studies the chemical, biological, and physical properties of food items or ingredients. Performs experiments involving food chemistry, microbiology, sensory science, and physical analysis to assess the composition, quality, nutritional value, and safety of food products. Develops formulations that meet taste, texture, nutritional, and regulatory requirements. Collaborates with manufacturing teams to transition laboratory concepts into scalable production processes. Documents research findings, maintains accurate testing records, and prepares technical reports for internal stakeholders. Requires a bachelor's degree in food science. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
New Product Development: In business and engineering, new product development (NPD) covers the complete process of bringing a new product to market. A central aspect of NPD is product design, along with various business considerations. New product development is described broadly as the transformation of a market opportunity into a product available for sale. The product can be tangible (something physical which one can touch) or intangible (like a service, experience, or belief), though sometimes services and other processes are distinguished from "products." NPD requires an understanding of customer needs and wants, the competitive environment, and the nature of the market. Cost, time and quality are the main variables that drive customer needs. Aiming at these three variables, innovative companies develop continuous practices and strategies to better satisfy customer requirements and to increase their own market share by a regular development of new products. There are many uncertainties and challenges which companies must face throughout the process. The use of best practices and the elimination of barriers to communication are the main concerns for the management of the NPD .[citation needed]
Technical Support: Offering hands-on assistance and solutions to end-users in addressing and troubleshooting technical issues.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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