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
San Francisco, CA	$80K	$109K	$148K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$78K	$107K	$145K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$75K	$102K	$138K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$74K	$101K	$138K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$74K	$101K	$138K	162	5%
Cambridge, MA	$74K	$101K	$138K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$74K	$101K	$138K	185	11%
Washington, DC	$73K	$99K	$135K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$72K	$98K	$133K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$71K	$97K	$132K	172	9.3%
San Diego, CA	$70K	$96K	$131K	148	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$70K	$95K	$129K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$70K	$95K	$129K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$69K	$94K	$128K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$69K	$94K	$128K	150	None ✓
Kirkland, WA	$69K	$94K	$128K	162	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$69K	$94K	$128K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$69K	$94K	$128K	162	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$68K	$93K	$126K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$67K	$92K	$124K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$67K	$92K	$125K	155	11%
Anaheim, CA	$66K	$90K	$122K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$66K	$90K	$123K	150	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$66K	$90K	$122K	148	5.75%
Sacramento, CA	$65K	$89K	$120K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$65K	$89K	$120K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$65K	$89K	$120K	120	5%
Alexandria, VA	$65K	$89K	$121K	145	5.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$65K	$89K	$120K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$65K	$89K	$120K	115	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$65K	$89K	$121K	145	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$64K	$87K	$118K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$64K	$87K	$119K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$64K	$87K	$118K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$64K	$87K	$118K	138	None ✓
Durham, NC	$63K	$86K	$117K	100	4.75%
Denver, CO	$62K	$84K	$114K	118	4.55%
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%
Hartford, CT	$61K	$83K	$112K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$60K	$82K	$111K	122	6.99%
Tacoma, WA	$59K	$81K	$110K	128	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$59K	$81K	$110K	90	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$59K	$81K	$110K	106	6.8%
Huntsville, AL	$59K	$81K	$110K	88	5%
Nashua, NH	$59K	$81K	$110K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$59K	$80K	$109K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$59K	$80K	$109K	118	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$58K	$80K	$108K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$58K	$80K	$108K	115	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$59K	$80K	$109K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$59K	$80K	$109K	118	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$58K	$80K	$108K	115	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$59K	$80K	$109K	118	5%
Ann Arbor, MI	$58K	$80K	$108K	115	4.25%
Gresham, OR	$59K	$80K	$109K	118	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$58K	$80K	$108K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$59K	$80K	$109K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$58K	$80K	$108K	115	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$59K	$80K	$109K	118	None ✓
Concord, NH	$58K	$80K	$108K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$59K	$80K	$109K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$59K	$80K	$109K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$58K	$80K	$108K	115	5.99%
Houston, TX	$58K	$79K	$107K	91	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$58K	$79K	$107K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$58K	$79K	$107K	105	None ✓
Miami, FL	$58K	$79K	$107K	123	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$58K	$79K	$107K	112	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$58K	$79K	$107K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$58K	$79K	$107K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$58K	$79K	$107K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$58K	$79K	$107K	99	5.75%
Cary, NC	$58K	$79K	$107K	112	4.75%
Madison, WI	$58K	$79K	$107K	102	5.3%
St. Paul, MN	$58K	$79K	$107K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$58K	$79K	$107K	105	4.85%
Eugene, OR	$57K	$78K	$106K	110	9.9%
McKinney, TX	$56K	$77K	$104K	108	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$57K	$77K	$105K	108	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$56K	$77K	$104K	105	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$57K	$77K	$105K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$57K	$77K	$105K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$57K	$77K	$105K	108	4.55%
Provo, UT	$56K	$77K	$104K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$57K	$77K	$105K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$57K	$77K	$105K	108	6.6%
Carrollton, TX	$55K	$76K	$103K	102	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$56K	$76K	$104K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$56K	$76K	$104K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$56K	$76K	$104K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$56K	$76K	$104K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$56K	$76K	$104K	105	5.8%
Missoula, MT	$55K	$76K	$103K	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	$101K	98	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$54K	$74K	$100K	100	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$54K	$74K	$101K	98	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$54K	$74K	$100K	102	4.55%
Chesapeake, VA	$54K	$74K	$101K	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	$101K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$54K	$74K	$101K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$54K	$74K	$101K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$54K	$74K	$101K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$54K	$74K	$101K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$54K	$74K	$101K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$54K	$73K	$100K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$54K	$73K	$100K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$54K	$73K	$100K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$54K	$73K	$100K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$54K	$73K	$100K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$54K	$73K	$100K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$54K	$73K	$100K	95	6.5%
Grand Prairie, TX	$53K	$72K	$98K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$53K	$72K	$99K	92	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$53K	$72K	$98K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$53K	$72K	$98K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$53K	$72K	$98K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$53K	$72K	$98K	98	2.5%
Athens, GA	$53K	$72K	$99K	92	5.75%
Sterling Heights, MI	$53K	$72K	$98K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$53K	$72K	$98K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$53K	$72K	$98K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$53K	$72K	$98K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$53K	$72K	$99K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$53K	$72K	$98K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$53K	$72K	$99K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$53K	$72K	$99K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$53K	$72K	$98K	90	2.5%
San Antonio, TX	$52K	$71K	$97K	87	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$52K	$71K	$97K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$52K	$71K	$97K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$52K	$71K	$97K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$52K	$71K	$97K	82	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$52K	$71K	$97K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$52K	$71K	$97K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	5%
Albuquerque, NM	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$52K	$71K	$97K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$52K	$70K	$96K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$51K	$69K	$94K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$51K	$69K	$94K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$51K	$69K	$94K	90	2.5%
Pueblo, CO	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	4.75%
Knoxville, TN	$51K	$69K	$94K	85	None ✓
Clarksville, TN	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$51K	$69K	$94K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$51K	$69K	$94K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$51K	$69K	$94K	88	6%
Davenport, IA	$51K	$69K	$94K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$50K	$69K	$93K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$50K	$68K	$93K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$50K	$68K	$93K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$50K	$68K	$92K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$50K	$68K	$93K	78	3.23%
Birmingham, AL	$50K	$68K	$92K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$50K	$68K	$92K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$50K	$68K	$92K	82	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$50K	$68K	$93K	78	6%
Des Moines, IA	$50K	$68K	$92K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$50K	$68K	$92K	88	5.84%
Jackson, MS	$50K	$68K	$93K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$50K	$68K	$93K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$49K	$67K	$91K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$49K	$67K	$91K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$49K	$67K	$91K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$48K	$66K	$90K	84	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$48K	$66K	$90K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$48K	$66K	$90K	82	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$48K	$66K	$90K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$47K	$64K	$87K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$47K	$64K	$87K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$45K	$61K	$84K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	76	None ✓

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 salary FAQ

How much does a Food Scientist make?

The median Food Scientist salary in the US is $75,000 per year — about $36/hour. Most earn between $55,000 (25th percentile) and $102,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Food Scientist?

Entry-level Food Scientist positions typically start around $55,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Food Scientists earn?

The top 10% of Food Scientists earn $138,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Food Scientists the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Food Scientist salary at $109K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Food Scientist salaries going up?

Yes — Food Scientist pay is growing about 5.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Food Scientist Salaryby City (2026)