The Institute of Food Technologists’ (IFTs’) latest industry report finds that wages have grown over the last few years, and the impact of scientific misinformation is a top concern.
The 2026 Compensation and Career Path Report analyzes career trends in the science of food, including compensation, job satisfaction, and workplace challenges, according to an IFT news release.
The report is based on a 2026 survey that collected data on compensation and career trends across various job titles and functions in the food industry, academia, government, and nonprofits. It also covers salary breakdowns by variables such as geographic region, job function, gender, and race.
Report highlights include:
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The median starting salary for professionals with less than one year of experience jumped from $58,000 in 2019 to $76,000 in 2026.
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The median raise among the more than two-thirds of respondents who reported receiving one within the last 12 months was 4.0%, which fell in line with the 3% to 4% in the broader economy in recent years.
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More than one-third of Millennial respondents shared they have considered leaving the food profession, the highest among all generational demographic groups.
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The impact of scientific misinformation ranked as the top professional concern followed by the environmental impact of the food system.
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Although most respondents were not concerned about the impact of AI on their jobs, AI was most frequently cited as a top priority for skills development.
The report is based on more than 5,000 survey responses collected in January 2026 from the global food science community. About two-thirds of the responses came from the US, and the remaining third came from outside the US, according to a “Methodology and Notes” section in the report.
“This year’s Compensation and Career Path Report reflects an industry at a turning point,” Bill McDowell, IFT’s vice president of content and editor-in-chief of Food Technology, said. “There is clear evidence of opportunity: many food science professionals are advancing in their careers and seeing competitive compensation. At the same time, persistent issues around workforce satisfaction, equity, and shifting role expectations continue to shape the landscape.”
Download the 2026 Compensation and Career Path Report.
The nonprofit will present findings from the report at IFT FIRST, its annual conference and expo, which takes place from July 12-15 in Chicago, IL.
IFT also published the Food Science Academic Knowledge Base 2025 report last year on the state of food science education. Combining quantitative and aggregated institutional data from food science programs around the world, the report covered application and enrollment trends, areas of growing and declining interest, as well as key influences.
Additionally, in the coming weeks, IFT will also release a white paper on workforce development. In an environment of rapid technological advancement and social change, preparing the scientific workforce for the future has become increasingly challenging, but also presents a strategic opportunity for food science.
To explore the skills and training needs for the future workforce, the IFT Food and Nutrition Security Steering Committee convened a multi-stakeholder workshop last year focused on four competency areas: AI, regulatory and policy literacy, systems thinking and leadership, and science communications and consumer understanding.