The median salary for a flavorist in the United States is $97,750 (all company sizes combined), according to the Institute of Food Technologists' (IFT) biannual member salary survey.* The median salary for flavorists in companies with 100-499 employees is $106,000. The report notes that overall food scientist salaries have grown 4.4% since 2007.
Sensory evaluation specialists report a median salary of $85,000, while research chefs report a median salary of $79,000.
*ME Kuhn, 2009 IFT Membership Employment & Salary Survey. Food Technology, 64(2), 20-37 (2009)



!['[R]etaining this next generation will depend on continuing to position flavor science as a field where individuals can combine scientific excellence with creativity and real-world impact, shaping how consumers experience food in ways that improve both health and sustainability,' says John Savage, IOFI president and president and CEO of Taste at Kerry.](https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/mindful/allured/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/07/john-savage.Cws5vQDBLp.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=191&q=70&w=340)






