Food Scientists and Technologists
SOC code 19-1012 · 1,456 certified H-1B positions, FY2023–FY2026.
1,456
certified positions
$87,942
Median pay
$73,000
25th pct
$110,000
75th pct
$130,000
90th pct
$61,724
10th pct
Estimates from public U.S. Department of Labor records — wages are
employer-attested offered wages, not verified salaries paid; counts are filings, not
people. Not legal, financial, or career advice. See our
disclaimer & terms.
Data: DOL filings FY2023–FY2026 (through June 2026) · Page updated October 2026
$79,518
Median prevailing wage
$61,724$87,942 median$130,000
Quarterly median pay 2022-Q4 → 2026-Q2 · ▲ 2.4%
Wage-level mix DOL prevailing-wage levels on these filings
Level I · Entry — 328 (23%), med $68,640Level II · Qualified — 415 (29%), med $83,200Level III · Experienced — 343 (24%), med $100,880Level IV · Fully competent — 333 (23%), med $120,000
Top employers hiring
| Employer | Positions | Median |
|---|---|---|
| KERRY INC | 28 | $96,000 |
| Archer Daniels Midland Company | 27 | $100,000 |
| General Mills, Inc. | 21 | $86,050 |
| International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | 18 | $111,854 |
| IMPOSSIBLE FOODS INC | 17 | $110,157 |
| TATE LYLE SOLUTIONS USA LLC | 17 | $97,344 |
| MSI EXPRESS INC | 17 | $70,000 |
| Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC | 16 | $87,640 |
| NESTLE RD CENTER INC | 15 | $92,040 |
| University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture | 14 | $49,492 |
| CHOBANI LLC | 12 | $90,715 |
| SOLAE LLC | 12 | $87,339 |
| Cornell University | 10 | $68,202 |
| BEYOND MEAT INC | 10 | $87,131 |
| Niagara Bottling, LLC | 10 | $116,844 |
Top states
| State | Positions |
|---|---|
| California | 244 |
| Illinois | 158 |
| New Jersey | 111 |
| New York | 106 |
| Texas | 82 |
| Wisconsin | 81 |
| Minnesota | 54 |
| Georgia | 52 |
| Ohio | 49 |
| Missouri | 42 |
| Pennsylvania | 34 |
| Washington | 31 |
| Idaho | 29 |
| Massachusetts | 28 |
| North Carolina | 27 |