Food Scientist Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Food Scientist in the United States is $70,859 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,786
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,765 to $77,626
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,127
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View as table View as graph 25% $65,765 10% $61,127 90% $83,786 75% $77,626 $70,859 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Food Scientist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $77,626 $6,469 $1,493 $37
Average $70,859 $5,905 $1,363 $34
25th Percentile $65,765 $5,480 $1,265 $32
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Key Factors That Influence Food Scientist Salaries

A Food Scientist'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.

Top Paying Cities for Food Scientists

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: $89,375
  • San Francisco: $88,496
  • Oakland: $86,533

What Skills Can Increase a Food Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.84% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • New Product Development (Mentioned in 2.25% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Offering hands-on assistance and solutions to end-users in addressing and troubleshooting technical issues.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.84%
New Product Development 2.25%
Technical Support 1.57%
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 Scientist's salary.
  • Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Business Acumen: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Interpersonal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Development
$89,991
27%
Business Acumen
$88,574
25%
Interpersonal Communication
$87,866
24%
Manufacturing Processes
$82,197
16%
Process Development
$81,488
15%
Chemistry
$81,488
15%
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Food Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Food Scientist'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

Salary Trends for Food Scientist

Salaries for a Food Scientist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $78,568 in 2023 to around $78,126 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Food Scientist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Food Scientist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$78,568
2024
$78,891
2025
$78,126
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $78,568
2024 $78,891
2025 $78,126
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Food Scientist

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

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

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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.)

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