Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive LearningWritingSpeakingScience
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Food Scientists and Technologists pay by experience level
Entry level$55,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$71,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$92,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$120,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$150,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+6.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,200
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by industry
Food Manufacturing
6,330 workers
$94,500
Other Food Manufacturing
2,250 workers
$105,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
1,870 workers
$104,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
1,610 workers
$117,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
1,610 workers
$117,000
Scientific Research and Development Services
1,050 workers
$123,000
Dairy Product Manufacturing
980 workers
$86,500
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
970 workers
$108,500
Animal Slaughtering and Processing
870 workers
$77,000
Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing
780 workers
$87,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $73,450 to $88,720.
+20.8% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$55,000
Early career25th percentile
$71,000
Median50th percentile
$92,000
Experienced75th percentile
$120,500
Top earners90th percentile
$150,500
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$98,500
2027$102,000
2028$105,500
2029$109,000
2030$113,000
2031$117,000
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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How much does a Food Scientists and Technologists make?
The median market pay for a Food Scientists and Technologists in the United States is about $98,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Food Scientists and Technologists?
Most Food Scientists and Technologists pay falls between about $71,000 (25th percentile) and $120,500 (75th percentile), with top earners above $150,500.
What does a Food Scientists and Technologists do?
Core responsibilities include: inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management; and check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
Is pay for Food Scientists and Technologists roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $73,450 in 2020 to $88,720 in 2025, a change of +20.8% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Food Scientists and Technologists pays 2% below the average across 66 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,500).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Food Scientists and Technologists make?
The average base salary for a Food Scientists and Technologists in the United States is $98,500 per year, or about $47.36 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $71,000 and $121,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Food Scientists and Technologists pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
