Salary Surveys
IFT has conducted surveys of salaries and employment status among its U.S. members periodically over the past four decades.
IFT conducts its Membership Employment & Salary Surveys every 2 years. These examine the income of IFT members who represent all types of professionals employed in food science and technology. The surveys have served as a valuable resource for members and others practicing in the food science and technology industry, as well as human resources personnel food companies.
2011 IFT Salary Survey Report
This year, for the first time, IFT is offering supplemental information in the form of the 2011 Membership Employment & Salary Survey Report. This report examines the income of IFT members who represent all types of professionals employed in food science and technology, incorporating income factors such as gender, years of experience, highest educational degree earned, geographical region, and size and type of employer. They also provides a snapshot of employment benefits, job satisfaction, and stresses.
It is available free of charge to IFT members and $99 for nonmembers.
Learn more
Past IFT Salary Surveys are available to IFT Members and Food Technology subscribers.
2011 Salary Survey
This Food Technology article covers highlights of the latest IFT Salary Survey Report. Compensation is down slightly, but most food scientists find satisfaction in their jobs, according to those polled by IFT.
Published date: February 2012
2009 Salary Survey
Despite the recessionary climate, the median salary for food scientists polled by IFT increased by 4.4% over the past two years.
Published date: February 2010
2007 Salary Survey
The median salary for IFT members rose 7.7% to $84,000 over the past two years, but salaries for women continue to lag behind those for men.
Published date: February 2008
2005 Salary Survey
Between 2003 and 2005, median salaries rose 6.6% to $78,000, and female membership increased to 46% of the total membership.
Published date: February 2006
2003 Salary Survey
This IFT Membership Employment & Salary Survey, published in February 2004, shows that median salaries for IFT members continued to increase, reaching $73,150, a 12.5% increase from the $65,000 in 1999. Membership demographics and employment status remain essentially unchanged.
Published date: February 2004
2001 Salary Survey
Recent food science graduates received a median starting salary of $45,000. That was one of the findings of an exclusive survey conducted by the Institute of Food Technologists.
Published date: March 2001