Food Scientists Salaries Remain Flat

CHICAGOResults of the 2011 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Employment and Salary Survey reveals that while the median salary for food scientists may have hit a plateau over the past two years, the majority of those surveyed expressed satisfaction in their jobs. For 2011, the median salary for survey respondents was $87,000, a slight drop of 0.8% compared with the 2009 IFT member median of $87,700.

More than 1,900 IFT members completed the survey, which is conducted every two years. More than eight out of 10 (84%) said they are either mostly satisfied (57%) or highly satisfied (27%) with their jobs. After being asked how the economic climate has affected their workplace, 31% of the respondents cited a hiring freeze; 30% a staff reduction; and 20% a salary freeze.

Nearly 73% of respondents characterized their jobs as stressful (37%) or moderately stressful (36%), and another 11% said their jobs were highly stressful.

In terms of hours worked during an average week, 35% reported working 41-50 hours weekly, followed by 25% who work an average of 46-50 hours weekly, and 19% who said they work more than 50 hours a week.