What are the main factors that influence a Food Industry's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a Food Industry's salary?

A Food Industry's salary grows with experience: starting around $60,816 for beginners, reaching about $61,838 at mid-level, and approach $63,580 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Food Industry?

Food Industry salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Food Industry roles are District of Columbia $68,467, California $68,208, Massachusetts $67,299. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Food Industry roles make?

Salaries for Food Industry level roles vary by specialization: Industry Manager: $131,670; Industry Pharmacist: $129,880; Food Safety Manager: $120,902; Industry Consultant: $107,594; Industry Lead: $90,938.

How do different companies affect a Food Industry's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Food Industry roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Food Industry Salary in the United States

How much does a Food Industry make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Food Industry in the United States is $61,838 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, a Food Industry's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $74,499
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,476 to $68,465
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,773

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Recruit with AI

AI Onboarding

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Food Industry Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$68,465	$5,705	$1,317	$33
Average	$61,838	$5,153	$1,189	$30
25th Percentile	$54,476	$4,540	$1,048	$26

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Food Industry Job Openings in the United States

Urgent Care Veterinarian Wheaton

Scout Veterinary Urgent Care - WHEATON, IL

Dental Hygienist

North Tahoe Truckee Dental - TRUCKEE, CA

Senior Attorney

Prestige Legal Solutions, P.C. - LOS ANGELES, CA

Registered Dental Hygienist

Total Health Dental Care - OAKLAND, CA

Search More Food Industry Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Food Industry Salaries

A Food Industry'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Food Industry Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Food Industry'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:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $60,816
Early Career (1-2 years): $61,123
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $61,838
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $62,656
Expert (over 8 years): $63,580

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Food Industry	$60,816
Intermediate Level Food Industry	$61,123
Senior Level Food Industry	$61,838
Specialist Level Food Industry	$62,656
Expert Level Food Industry	$63,580

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Food Industry Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Food Industries. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $68,467.
California: $68,208.
Massachusetts: $67,299.

District of Columbia $68,467 California $68,208 Massachusetts $67,299 Washington $67,051 New Jersey $67,027 Alaska $66,940 Connecticut $66,087 New York $65,740

Hawaii $64,633 Rhode Island $64,114 Maryland $63,762 Minnesota $63,279 Colorado $63,094 Illinois $63,032 Oregon $62,797 Delaware $62,624

New Hampshire $62,515 Virginia $62,271 Pennsylvania $61,560 Nevada $61,201 North Dakota $61,084 Michigan $60,898 Wisconsin $60,830 Vermont $60,694

Texas $60,317 Maine $60,292 Arizona $60,255 Ohio $60,212 Georgia $59,643 Indiana $59,359 Wyoming $59,303 Utah $59,216

Iowa $59,179 Kansas $58,883 Louisiana $58,796 North Carolina $58,765 Missouri $58,753 Florida $58,511 Montana $58,382 Nebraska $58,258

Kentucky $58,190 South Carolina $57,943 Tennessee $57,788 Idaho $57,726 New Mexico $57,275 Oklahoma $57,176 Alabama $56,811 South Dakota $56,199

Arkansas $55,865 West Virginia $55,685 Mississippi $55,147

Top Paying Cities for Food Industries

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $77,997
San Francisco: $77,230
Oakland: $75,517

San Jose, CA $77,997

San Francisco, CA $77,230

Oakland, CA $75,517

New York, NY $71,665

Queens Village, NY $71,201

Paramus, NJ $70,706

Passaic, NJ $70,644

Bergenfield, NJ $70,582

Stamford, CT $70,490

Huntington, NY $70,428

Newark, NJ $70,026

Bridgeport, CT $69,902

New Brunswick, NJ $69,698

Vallejo, CA $69,568

Middlesex, NJ $69,531

Somerset, NJ $69,475

Petaluma, CA $69,333

Santa Cruz, CA $69,092

Boston, MA $68,968

Monterey, CA $68,659

Fairbanks, AK $68,616

Los Angeles, CA $68,498

Washington, DC $68,467

Seattle, WA $68,356

Santa Rosa, CA $68,344

Juneau, AK $68,164

Orange, CA $67,960

Anchorage, AK $67,849

Anaheim, CA $67,806

Santa Ana, CA $67,713

Nassau, NY $67,676

Long Beach, CA $67,651

Danbury, CT $67,633

Santa Maria, CA $67,422

Everett, WA $67,410

Bremerton, WA $67,107

Trenton, NJ $66,990

Sacramento, CA $66,965

San Diego, CA $66,934

Brockton, MA $66,909

Tacoma, WA $66,884

Santa Barbara, CA $66,798

Lowell, MA $66,550

New Suffolk, NY $66,526

Nashua, NH $66,452

Lompoc, CA $66,353

Ventura, CA $66,291

Stockton, CA $66,272

New Haven, CT $66,149

Atlantic City, NJ $65,988

Hartford, CT $65,852

Modesto, CA $65,821

Poughkeepsie, NY $65,685

New Britain, CT $65,654

Olympia, WA $65,567

Kennewick, WA $65,567

New London, CT $65,555

Norwich, CT $65,536

Lawrence, MA $65,505

Bakersfield, CA $65,332

Riverside, CA $65,246

New Bedford, MA $65,246

Richland, WA $65,184

Portsmouth, NH $65,134

Vineland, NJ $65,122

San Bernardino, CA $65,073

Boulder, CO $64,899

Worcester, MA $64,850

Portland, OR $64,794

Saint Paul, MN $64,720

Minneapolis, MN $64,720

Philadelphia, PA $64,633

Honolulu, HI $64,306

Springfield, MA $64,089

Providence, RI $64,083

Chicago, IL $63,904

Bellingham, WA $63,830

Baltimore, MD $63,762

Chico, CA $63,607

Wilmington, DE $63,502

Pittsfield, MA $63,440

Manchester, NH $63,323

Spokane, WA $63,050

Denver, CO $63,044

Albany, NY $62,754

Troy, NY $62,729

Schenectady, NY $62,599

Burlington, VT $62,463

Portland, ME $62,247

Salem, OR $62,197

Yakima, WA $62,185

Ann Arbor, MI $62,166

Rochester, MN $61,993

Fresno, CA $61,962

Reno, NV $61,962

Milwaukee, WI $61,906

Detroit, MI $61,845

Allentown, PA $61,826

Carson City, NV $61,820

Houston, TX $61,727

Colorado Springs, CO $61,721

Syracuse, NY $61,690

Eugene, OR $61,572

Bismarck, ND $61,498

Gary, IN $61,498

Galveston, TX $61,498

Springfield, OR $61,449

Medford, OR $61,300

Fort Collins, CO $61,276

Austin, TX $61,226

Mesa, AZ $61,096

Phoenix, AZ $61,084

Dallas, TX $61,065

Reading, PA $61,028

Saint Cloud, MN $61,004

Concord, NH $60,948

Madison, WI $60,923

Utica, NY $60,756

Raleigh, NC $60,707

Las Vegas, NV $60,701

Rochester, NY $60,657

Des Moines, IA $60,651

Atlanta, GA $60,552

Battle Creek, MI $60,534

Salt Lake City, UT $60,515

Lancaster, PA $60,422

Champaign, IL $60,410

Harrisburg, PA $60,336

Durham, NC $60,280

Kansas City, MO $60,274

Kansas City, KS $60,262

Fort Worth, TX $60,255

Boca Raton, FL $60,231

Cleveland, OH $60,224

Columbus, OH $60,212

Pittsburgh, PA $60,206

Richmond, VA $60,181

Indianapolis, IN $60,169

Cincinnati, OH $60,088

Petersburg, VA $59,996

Billings, MT $59,860

Lansing, MI $59,860

Huntsville, AL $59,860

Lebanon, PA $59,853

Dayton, OH $59,847

Pueblo, CO $59,847

Appleton, WI $59,829

Buffalo, NY $59,804

Racine, WI $59,773

Charlotte, NC $59,767

Saint Louis, MO $59,748

Springfield, IL $59,724

Elkhart, IN $59,711

York, PA $59,711

Gastonia, NC $59,705

Benton Harbor, MI $59,705

Beaumont, TX $59,668

Lorain, OH $59,656

Toledo, OH $59,631

Binghamton, NY $59,600

Rock Hill, SC $59,594

Rockford, IL $59,563

Fargo, ND $59,532

Elyria, OH $59,532

Flagstaff, AZ $59,489

Fort Lauderdale, FL $59,451

Miami, FL $59,414

Duluth, MN $59,315

Bangor, ME $59,235

Cedar Rapids, IA $59,167

Louisville, KY $59,136

Grand Rapids, MI $59,124

Hialeah, FL $59,118

Casper, WY $59,031

Scranton, PA $58,957

New Orleans, LA $58,938

Virginia Beach, VA $58,932

Akron, OH $58,901

Peoria, IL $58,821

Sarasota, FL $58,808

Green Bay, WI $58,765

Baton Rouge, LA $58,734

Charleston, SC $58,722

Nashville, TN $58,703

Jamestown, NY $58,691

Davenport, IA $58,691

Tucson, AZ $58,660

Cheyenne, WY $58,641

Saint Petersburg, FL $58,623

Tampa, FL $58,610

Omaha, NE $58,598

Port Arthur, TX $58,573

Evansville, IN $58,573

Bradenton, FL $58,549

Santa Fe, NM $58,437

Orlando, FL $58,375

Clearwater, FL $58,307

Canton, OH $58,178

La Crosse, WI $58,178

Grand Forks, ND $58,159

Albuquerque, NM $58,140

Tulsa, OK $58,140

Newport News, VA $58,134

High Point, NC $58,116

Ogden, UT $58,091

Corpus Christi, TX $58,042

Laramie, WY $58,004

Norfolk, VA $58,004

Rock Island, IL $57,967

Saginaw, MI $57,955

Jacksonville, FL $57,949

Salisbury, NC $57,936

Memphis, TN $57,924

Moline, IL $57,893

Fort Myers, FL $57,875

Waterloo, IA $57,794

Spartanburg, SC $57,732

Lincoln, NE $57,701

Fort Wayne, IN $57,689

Birmingham, AL $57,621

Cedar Falls, IA $57,609

Provo, UT $57,602

Springfield, OH $57,596

San Antonio, TX $57,584

Greensboro, NC $57,559

South Bend, IN $57,553

Winston Salem, NC $57,547

Boise, ID $57,528

Savannah, GA $57,485

Muskegon, MI $57,374

Lima, OH $57,299

Lake Charles, LA $57,275

Anderson, IN $57,262

Lexington, KY $57,244

Augusta, GA $57,225

Greenville, SC $57,225

Wichita, KS $57,170

Tuscaloosa, AL $57,170

Columbia, SC $57,114

Bloomington, IN $56,959

Roanoke, VA $56,922

Asheville, NC $56,842

Knoxville, TN $56,737

Shreveport, LA $56,731

Wilmington, NC $56,650

Frankfort, KY $56,533

Oklahoma City, OK $56,489

Chillicothe, OH $56,465

Longview, TX $56,458

Topeka, KS $56,440

Mobile, AL $56,347

Terre Haute, IN $56,322

Erie, PA $56,316

Altoona, PA $56,285

Melbourne, FL $56,267

Amarillo, TX $56,242

Killeen, TX $56,223

Fayetteville, AR $56,174

Sioux Falls, SD $56,131

Chattanooga, TN $56,094

Idaho Falls, ID $56,087

Gainesville, FL $55,958

Portsmouth, OH $55,927

Little Rock, AR $55,914

Lynchburg, VA $55,914

Lafayette, LA $55,890

Youngstown, OH $55,890

Temple, TX $55,865

Daytona Beach, FL $55,852

Clarksville, TN $55,846

Pensacola, FL $55,840

Hopkinsville, KY $55,655

Charleston, WV $55,648

Florence, SC $55,617

Sioux City, IA $55,580

Macon, GA $55,401

Tallahassee, FL $55,395

Fayetteville, NC $55,382

Waco, TX $55,370

Wichita Falls, TX $55,370

Pine Bluff, AR $55,345

Vincennes, IN $55,228

Lubbock, TX $55,203

Great Falls, MT $55,166

Alamogordo, NM $55,160

Abilene, TX $55,110

Rapid City, SD $55,030

Monroe, LA $55,030

Albany, GA $54,993

Huntington, WV $54,987

Jackson, MS $54,981

Greenville, MS $54,974

Parkersburg, WV $54,912

Montgomery, AL $54,900

Johnstown, PA $54,888

Springfield, MO $54,838

Biloxi, MS $54,807

Sumter, SC $54,678

Columbus, GA $54,671

Twin Falls, ID $54,634

Pascagoula, MS $54,554

Kingsport, TN $54,393

Gulfport, MS $54,375

Alexandria, LA $54,170

Fort Smith, AR $54,016

El Paso, TX $53,849

Helena, MT $53,768

Las Cruces, NM $53,571

Harlingen, TX $53,397

Pocatello, ID $53,342

Florence, AL $53,323

Brownsville, TX $53,311

Dothan, AL $53,212

Mcallen, TX $53,181

Columbus, MS $52,723

Altus, OK $52,439

Lawton, OK $52,321

Pierre, SD $52,099

What Skills Can Increase a Food Industry's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Customer Service (Mentioned in 14.17% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Container (Mentioned in 1.44% Job Postings): Container is an object used for or capable of holding, esp for transport or storage, such as a carton, box, etc.
Equipment Maintenance (Mentioned in 1.1% Job Postings): Keeping business equipment in reliable working order and condition to lessen downtime and assure equipment safety.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Customer Service	14.17%
Container	1.44%
Equipment Maintenance	1.1%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

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 Industry's salary.

Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
KPI: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Analysis	$74,824	21%
Presentation	$72,351	17%
KPI	$70,496	14%
Business Operations	$68,022	10%
Innovation	$68,022	10%
Accounting	$68,022	10%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Food Industry's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Food Industries enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Food Industry with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $62,794 and $66,204).

Food Industry Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Food Industry

No Diploma 56.7%

High School 56.7%

Associates 16.7%

Bachelors 26.7%

Masters 0.0%

Doctorate 0.0%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	56.7%
High School	56.7%
Associates	16.7%
Bachelors	26.7%
Masters	0.0%
Doctorate	0.0%

view as graph

Food Industry Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Food Industry'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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

$54,476

Average $61,838/year

$68,465

$4,540

Average $5,153/month

$5,705

$1,048

Average $1,189/week

$1,317

$26

Average $30/hour

$33

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$68,465	$5,705	$1,317	$33
Average	$61,838	$5,153	$1,189	$30
25th Percentile	$54,476	$4,540	$1,048	$26

Salaries of jobs related to Food Industry

Salary Trends for Food Industry

Salaries for a Food Industry can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $63,871 in 2023 to around $63,476 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Food Industry salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Food Industry Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$63,871

2024

$63,941

2025

$63,476

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$63,871
2024	$63,941
2025	$63,476
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Food Industry

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Food Industry Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Food Industry job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about