What is the average Food Scientist salary in the US?

The national median Food Scientist salary is $75,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $55,000, while senior professionals earn $138,000 or more.

Which city pays Food Scientists the most?

New York City offers the highest median Food Scientist salary at $140K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Food Scientist salaries growing?

Food Scientist salaries are growing at 5.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Agriculture25% remote-eligible+5.5% YoY growth

Food Scientist Salary
by City (2026)

Research and develop food products, improve processing methods, and ensure safety standards. National median: $75K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$75K

Top 10% earn

$138K

Entry level

$55K

Salary growth

+5.5%/yr

Food Scientist salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
New York City, NY	$103K	$140K	$191K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$102K	$139K	$189K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$102K	$139K	$189K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$96K	$131K	$179K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$95K	$129K	$175K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$91K	$124K	$168K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$91K	$124K	$168K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$89K	$122K	$165K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$87K	$119K	$161K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$85K	$116K	$158K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$83K	$113K	$153K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$81K	$111K	$151K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$81K	$111K	$151K	148	5.75%
San Francisco, CA	$80K	$109K	$148K	224	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$80K	$109K	$148K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$80K	$109K	$148K	145	10.75%
San Jose, CA	$78K	$107K	$145K	210	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$77K	$105K	$143K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$76K	$103K	$141K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$76K	$103K	$141K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$76K	$103K	$141K	138	None ✓
Oakland, CA	$74K	$101K	$138K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$74K	$101K	$138K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$73K	$99K	$135K	152	8.5%
San Diego, CA	$70K	$96K	$131K	148	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$69K	$94K	$128K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$69K	$94K	$128K	150	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$69K	$94K	$128K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$69K	$94K	$128K	162	10.75%
Newark, NJ	$67K	$92K	$124K	155	10.75%
New Haven, CT	$67K	$92K	$124K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$66K	$90K	$122K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$65K	$89K	$120K	118	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$65K	$89K	$120K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$65K	$89K	$120K	155	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$65K	$89K	$120K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$65K	$89K	$120K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$65K	$89K	$120K	118	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$65K	$89K	$120K	120	5%
Lowell, MA	$65K	$89K	$120K	118	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$65K	$89K	$120K	110	3.07%
Gresham, OR	$65K	$89K	$120K	118	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$65K	$89K	$120K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$65K	$89K	$120K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$65K	$89K	$120K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$65K	$89K	$120K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$65K	$89K	$120K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$63K	$86K	$117K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$63K	$86K	$117K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$63K	$86K	$117K	115	4.55%
Durham, NC	$63K	$86K	$117K	100	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$63K	$86K	$117K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$63K	$86K	$117K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$63K	$86K	$117K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$63K	$86K	$117K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$63K	$86K	$117K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$62K	$84K	$114K	112	None ✓
Denver, CO	$62K	$84K	$114K	118	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$62K	$84K	$114K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$62K	$84K	$114K	112	4.75%
Portland, OR	$62K	$84K	$114K	130	9.9%
Honolulu, HI	$62K	$84K	$114K	192	11%
Anchorage, AK	$62K	$84K	$114K	128	None ✓
Austin, TX	$61K	$83K	$112K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$61K	$83K	$112K	107	4.95%
Raleigh, NC	$61K	$83K	$112K	102	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$61K	$83K	$112K	110	9.9%
Hartford, CT	$61K	$83K	$112K	118	6.99%
Round Rock, TX	$59K	$81K	$110K	108	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$59K	$81K	$110K	128	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$59K	$81K	$110K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$59K	$81K	$110K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$59K	$81K	$110K	108	4.55%
Pittsburgh, PA	$59K	$81K	$110K	90	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$59K	$81K	$110K	106	6.8%
Huntsville, AL	$59K	$81K	$110K	88	5%
Boise, ID	$59K	$81K	$110K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$59K	$81K	$110K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$58K	$79K	$107K	91	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$58K	$79K	$107K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$58K	$79K	$107K	105	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$58K	$79K	$107K	105	9.3%
Miami, FL	$58K	$79K	$107K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$58K	$79K	$107K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$58K	$79K	$107K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$58K	$79K	$107K	99	5.75%
Springfield, MA	$58K	$79K	$107K	105	5%
Madison, WI	$58K	$79K	$107K	102	5.3%
St. Paul, MN	$58K	$79K	$107K	104	6.8%
Salem, OR	$58K	$79K	$107K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$58K	$79K	$107K	105	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$58K	$79K	$107K	105	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$58K	$79K	$107K	105	5.8%
McKinney, TX	$56K	$77K	$104K	108	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$56K	$77K	$104K	102	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$56K	$77K	$104K	105	2.5%
Provo, UT	$56K	$77K	$104K	100	4.85%
Missoula, MT	$56K	$77K	$104K	102	6.75%
Fort Worth, TX	$55K	$75K	$102K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$55K	$75K	$102K	97	None ✓
Denton, TX	$55K	$75K	$102K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$55K	$75K	$102K	100	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$55K	$75K	$102K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$55K	$75K	$102K	100	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$55K	$75K	$102K	118	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$55K	$75K	$102K	100	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$55K	$75K	$102K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$55K	$75K	$102K	100	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$55K	$75K	$102K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$55K	$75K	$102K	102	None ✓
Rochester, MN	$55K	$75K	$102K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$55K	$75K	$102K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$55K	$75K	$102K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$55K	$75K	$102K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$54K	$74K	$100K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$54K	$74K	$100K	91	None ✓
Albany, NY	$54K	$74K	$100K	98	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$54K	$74K	$100K	100	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$54K	$74K	$100K	98	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$54K	$74K	$100K	102	4.55%
Chesapeake, VA	$54K	$74K	$100K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$54K	$74K	$100K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$54K	$74K	$100K	90	3.99%
Reno, NV	$54K	$74K	$100K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$54K	$74K	$100K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$54K	$74K	$100K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$54K	$74K	$100K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$54K	$74K	$100K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$54K	$74K	$100K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$54K	$74K	$100K	98	7.15%
St. Petersburg, FL	$53K	$72K	$98K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$53K	$72K	$98K	98	2.5%
St. Louis, MO	$53K	$72K	$98K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$53K	$72K	$98K	90	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$53K	$72K	$98K	105	6.5%
San Antonio, TX	$52K	$71K	$97K	87	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$52K	$71K	$97K	102	9.3%
Bakersfield, CA	$52K	$71K	$97K	95	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$52K	$71K	$97K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$52K	$71K	$97K	93	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$52K	$71K	$97K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$52K	$71K	$97K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$52K	$71K	$97K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$52K	$71K	$97K	95	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$52K	$71K	$97K	82	4.25%
Allentown, PA	$52K	$71K	$97K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$52K	$71K	$97K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	3.23%
Las Vegas, NV	$52K	$71K	$97K	102	None ✓
North Charleston, SC	$52K	$71K	$97K	95	6.5%
Albuquerque, NM	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	5.9%
Midland, TX	$51K	$69K	$94K	92	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$51K	$69K	$94K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$51K	$69K	$94K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$51K	$69K	$94K	90	2.5%
Athens, GA	$51K	$69K	$94K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$51K	$69K	$94K	85	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	3.99%
Duluth, MN	$51K	$69K	$94K	92	6.8%
Louisville, KY	$51K	$69K	$94K	85	5%
Greenville, SC	$51K	$69K	$94K	92	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$51K	$69K	$94K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$51K	$69K	$94K	88	6%
Cheyenne, WY	$51K	$69K	$94K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$50K	$68K	$92K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$50K	$68K	$92K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$50K	$68K	$92K	90	4.95%
Grand Rapids, MI	$50K	$68K	$92K	90	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$50K	$68K	$92K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$50K	$68K	$92K	90	5.3%
Birmingham, AL	$50K	$68K	$92K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$50K	$68K	$92K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$50K	$68K	$92K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$50K	$68K	$92K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$50K	$68K	$92K	88	5.84%
Fargo, ND	$50K	$68K	$92K	90	2.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$48K	$66K	$90K	84	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$48K	$66K	$90K	92	5.75%
Greensboro, NC	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	4.75%
Memphis, TN	$48K	$66K	$90K	82	None ✓
Chattanooga, TN	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	5%
Tulsa, OK	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$48K	$66K	$90K	82	5.7%
Great Falls, MT	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	None ✓
El Paso, TX	$47K	$64K	$87K	82	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	5.9%
Little Rock, AR	$47K	$64K	$87K	82	4.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$47K	$64K	$87K	85	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$45K	$61K	$84K	78	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$45K	$61K	$84K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$44K	$60K	$82K	80	5%
Laredo, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	76	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$43K	$59K	$80K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$43K	$59K	$80K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$43K	$59K	$80K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$43K	$59K	$80K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$43K	$59K	$80K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$41K	$56K	$77K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$41K	$56K	$77K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$41K	$56K	$77K	75	6.5%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $75K Food Scientist salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Food Scientist Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Food Scientist is $75,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $55,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $102,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Food Scientists nationally earn $138,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Food Science or Chemistry; advanced degree preferred. This role is 25% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Food Scientist compensation is growing at 5.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Food Scientists significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Food Scientist Salaryby City (2026)