Career comparison
Chemist vs. Food Scientist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Chemists earn more at the median ($91,240 vs. $88,720), while chemists usually get to work faster (4+ years of training). Chemists study substances and create new materials, medicines and products. Food scientists develop new foods and make sure food is safe and tasty.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Chemist | Food Scientist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $91,240 ($43.87/hr) | $88,720 ($42.65/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $58,460 – $160,830 | $52,920 – $145,280 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.4% (faster than average) | +6.2% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 5,900 | 1,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4+ years | 4-year degree |
| Key credential | ACS-certified degree | CFS |
| Work setting | Chemists work in labs and offices in industry, government and universities.. | Food scientists work in labs, pilot plants and food factories.. |
What each job does
Chemist
- Design and run experiments
- Analyze substances with instruments
- Develop new products and processes
- Interpret data
- Write reports and procedures
Food Scientist
- Develop products
- Run sensory tests
- Test shelf life
- Ensure food safety
- Scale recipes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve indoor work, working with information, high-pay, and in-demand. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose chemist if…
- I love chemistry
- I enjoy experiments
- I like solving puzzles
Choose food scientist if…
- I love food
- I like chemistry
- I’m creative
Still torn? Take the Chemist fit quiz and the Food Scientist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, chemist or food scientist?
Chemists earn more at the median: $91,240 versus $88,720 for food scientists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Chemists typically train faster (4+ years) than food scientists (4-year degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects chemists to grow +6.4% from 2025–35, compared with +6.2% for food scientists.