Categories

  • Get the Job
  • Get Ahead
  • Career Paths
  • Students
  • Job Descriptions
  • Salary Insights
Career Trend
Career Trend
  • Get the Job
    • Resumes and CVs
    • Applications
    • Cover Letters
    • Professional References
    • Interviews
    • Networking
    • Professional Licenses and Exams
  • Get Ahead
    • Get a Promotion
    • Negotiation
    • Professional Ethics
    • Professionalism
    • Dealing with Coworkers
    • Dealing with Bosses
    • Communication Skills
    • Managing the Office
    • Disabilities
    • Harassment and Discrimination
    • Unemployment
  • Career Paths
    • Compare Careers
    • Switching Careers
    • Training and Certifications
    • Start a Company
  • Students
    • Internships and Apprenticeships
    • Entry Level Jobs
    • College Degrees
  • Home »
  • Salary Insights »
  • More Salary Information

Starting Pay for a Food Scientist

By Forest Time; Updated July 05, 2017
Scientists in laboratory with chicken
Michael Blann/Lifesize/Getty Images

Food scientists, sometimes called food technologists, conduct research and experiments with the aim of improving the nation's food-processing systems and food products. Entry-level positions in the field require at least a bachelor's degree, and advancement often requires a master's degree or Ph.D. While food scientists at all levels of experience reported an average income of $64,140 per year to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2012, food scientists just starting out in the field tend to earn less.

Median Starting Pay

According to a salary survey conducted by the Institute of Food Technologists, or IFT, food scientists with a bachelor's degree reported a median starting salary of $44,000 a year in 2011. This represented a notable increase from the $28,200 median starting pay reported in 1993. However, there was a significant pay difference between men and women, with women starting at a median pay of $43,000 a year and men starting at $52,000 a year.

Starting Pay by Degree

The 2011 IFT salary survey also revealed that starting pay tended to be higher for food scientists who had higher-level degrees. While those with a bachelor's degree earned a median of $44,000 per year, those who graduated with a master's degree reported a median annual income of $60,000 a year. Unsurprisingly, food scientists with a Ph.D. reported the highest starting pay, at $74,500 per year.

Eventual Pay

Once they have several years of experience, food scientists can expect an average income of $64,140 a year, according to 2012 BLS statistics. Average salaries varied considerably by state, with Massachusetts reporting the highest average income of $77,500 per year, and Mississippi reporting the lowest of $48,050 a year. Food scientists employed by the federal government earned the highest average income by employer, at $91,850 per year. Those employed by scientific research and development firms averaged $75,160 a year, while those employed by specific industries reported average salaries ranging from about $55,000 to $65,000 per year.

Job Outlook

According to the BLS, food scientists can expect a relatively slow job growth rate between 2010 and 2020 of about 8 percent. This amounts to only about 1,100 new jobs. By comparison, the average rate of job growth in the American economy over the same period is projected to be 14 percent. The majority of job openings are expected to occur in private industry.

References

  • Institute of Food Technologists: 2011 Salary Survey
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics: Agricultural and Food Scientists
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2012 Wages for Food Scientists and Food Technologists

Find a Job

Job Search by ZipRecruiter

About the Author

This article was written by the CareerTrend team, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information. To submit your questions or ideas, or to simply learn more about CareerTrend, contact us.

More Articles

  • The Average Chemical Engineering Starting Salary
  • The Average Entry-Level Manufacturing Engineer Pay
  • Job Description for a Quality-Control Lab Technician
  • How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator
  • Agriculture Job Descriptions
  • Job Description for a Poultry Processor

Continue Reading in Salary Insights

Journalism Salaries
Healthcare Salaries
Military Salaries
Engineering Salaries
Teaching Salaries
Cite this Article A tool to create a citation to reference this article Cite this Article
Choose Citation Style
Time, Forest. "Starting Pay for a Food Scientist." Career Trend, http://careertrend.com/starting-pay-food-scientist-9524.html. 05 July 2017.
Time, Forest. (2017, July 05). Starting Pay for a Food Scientist. Career Trend. Retrieved from http://careertrend.com/starting-pay-food-scientist-9524.html
Time, Forest. "Starting Pay for a Food Scientist" last modified July 05, 2017. http://careertrend.com/starting-pay-food-scientist-9524.html
Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.

Related Content

How Much Do Food Chemists Make?
Entry Level Chemist Salary

Related Occupations

Job Growth: -16.7% 2014-2016
Agricultural and Food Science ... $37,550
Job Growth: -4.7% 2014-2016
Chemical Engineers $98,340

Popular Articles

The Salary of a Registered Dietitian With a Master's Vs. One With a Bachelor's Degree
Food Analyst Job Description
Get the Job
Resumes and CVs
Applications
Cover Letters
Professional References
Interviews
Networking
Professional Licenses and Exams
Get Ahead
Get a Promotion
Negotiation
Professional Ethics
Professionalism
Dealing with Coworkers
Dealing with Bosses
Communication Skills
Managing the Office
Disabilities
Harassment and Discrimination
Unemployment
Career Paths
Compare Careers
Switching Careers
Training and Certifications
Start a Company
Students
Internships and Apprenticeships
Entry Level Jobs
College Degrees
Career Trend
  • About Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Find a Job
Copyright 2018 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved.
AdChoices