Food Quality Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Food Quality Specialist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Food Quality Specialist in the United States is $50,374 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $59,721
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,406 to $55,267
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,793
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View as table View as graph 25% $46,406 10% $42,793 90% $59,721 75% $55,267 $50,374 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Food Quality Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $55,267 $4,606 $1,063 $27
Average $50,374 $4,198 $969 $24
25th Percentile $46,406 $3,867 $892 $22
Check out Food Quality Specialist Job Openings in the United States
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Engineered Profiles LLC - Columbus, OH

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S R INTERNATIONAL INC - Columbus, OH

Quality Control Specialist

Actalent - Columbus, OH

Solar Quality Specialist

Kokosing - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Food Quality Specialist Salaries

A Food Quality Specialist'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 Do Food Quality Specialist 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 Quality Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $55,775.
  • California: $55,563.
  • Massachusetts: $54,822.

Top Paying Cities for Food Quality Specialists

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: $63,537
  • San Francisco: $62,842
  • Oakland: $61,517

What Skills Can Increase a Food Quality Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.75% 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.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 2.95% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • Quality Inspection (Mentioned in 2.45% Job Postings): Evaluating and testing product or service features while comparing the results with specified requirements to validate conformity.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.75%
Data Entry 2.95%
Quality Inspection 2.45%
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 Quality Specialist's salary.
  • Building Relationships: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Client Service: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Facilitation: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Building Relationships
$60,449
20%
Client Service
$57,427
14%
Facilitation
$56,923
13%
Hard Working
$56,419
12%
Quality Management
$55,412
10%
SOP
$54,404
8%
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Food Quality Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Food Quality Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Food Quality Specialist positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Food Quality Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Food Quality Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$60,449$29.020%

How Education impacts a Food Quality Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Food Quality Specialists 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 Quality Specialist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $40,974 and $43,347).

Food Quality Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Food Quality Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 59.2%
High School 59.2%
Associates 14.2%
Bachelors 23.7%
Masters 3.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Food Quality Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Food Quality Specialist'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Food Quality Specialist

Salaries for a Food Quality Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $39,723 in 2023 to around $39,471 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Food Quality Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Food Quality Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$39,723
2024
$39,628
2025
$39,471
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $39,723
2024 $39,628
2025 $39,471
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Food Quality Specialist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Food Quality Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Food Quality Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Food Quality Specialist Job

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

United States
  • Kiewit

    Columbus, OH

    Kiewit | Columbus, OH

    Quality Assurance Specialist - Mechanical - Advanced Manufacturing. Location: Point Pleasant, WV, US Louisville, KY, US Cleveland, OH, US Columbus, OH, US.... more

    11 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    7 Days Ago

  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    7 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    16 Days Ago

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FAQ about Food Quality Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Food Quality Specialist?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Food Quality Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.

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