As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Food Product Development Scientist I in the United States is $70,595. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $62,403 to $76,234, with most professionals earning between $54,945 and $81,368.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $76,234 | $6,353 | $1,466 | $37 |
| Average | $70,595 | $5,883 | $1,358 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,403 | $5,200 | $1,200 | $30 |
An entry-level Food Product Development Scientist I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $67,905. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $68,150. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $71,016. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $73,372, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $73,541.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Food Product Development Scientist I | $67,905 |
| Intermediate Level Food Product Development Scientist I | $68,150 |
| Senior Level Food Product Development Scientist I | $71,016 |
| Specialist Level Food Product Development Scientist I | $73,372 |
| Expert Level Food Product Development Scientist I | $73,541 |
| Entry Level | 4% |
| Mid Level | 3% |
| Senior Level | 1% |
| Top Level | 4% |
| Experienced | 4% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Food Product Development Scientist I compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $79,242 in 2023 to approximately $79,567 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Food Product Development Scientist I salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Food Product Development Scientist I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Food Product Development Scientist I job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Food Product Development Scientist I and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $70,595 | 71.7% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $5,401 | 5.5% | ||
| 401K/403B | $3,318 | 3.4% | ||
| Disability | $565 | 0.6% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,056 | 6.1% | ||
| Pension | $3,883 | 3.9% | ||
| Time Off | $8,689 | 8.8% | ||
| Total Compensation | $98,505 | 100% | ||
The average annual salary of Food Product Development Scientist I is $70,595. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Food Product Development Scientist I is $34; the average weekly pay of Food Product Development Scientist I is $1,358; the average monthly pay of Food Product Development Scientist I is $5,883.
A Food Product Development Scientist I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Food Product Development Scientist I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Food Product Development Scientist I is $89,041.
The highest pay for Food Product Development Scientist I is $81,368.
The lowest pay for Food Product Development Scientist I is $54,945.
Performs food product development activities including testing of prototypes, competitive products, and production samples. Studies the chemical, biological, and physical properties of food items or ingredients to assess the composition, quality, and safety of food products. Develops and refines the processing of ingredients into food products and determines nutritional values. Documents ingredients, formulations, processes, and the testing involved with new product research and development or enhancements to existing products. Participates in sensory evaluations and trials of products and determines areas of improvement. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Food Processing: Food processing is the transformation of agricultural products into food, or of one form of food into other forms.
Technical Support: Offering hands-on assistance and solutions to end-users in addressing and troubleshooting technical issues.
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.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
