How to Become a Food Scientist in Iowa: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does a food scientist make in Iowa?"

"The median annual wage for food scientists and technologists in Iowa is $82,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 8% below the national median of $88,720."

Q: "How do I become a food scientist in Iowa?"

"The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in food science or food technology - with licensing administered at the state level: No license; IFT Certified Food Scientist credential valued. See the steps below."

Q: "How many food scientists and technologists work in Iowa?"

"BLS counts about 380 food scientists and technologists employed in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Iowa food scientists and technologists earn a median annual wage of $82,010 ($39.43/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 380 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -7.6% below the national median of $88,720 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $82,010 ($39.43/hr)
25th percentile: $65,170 per year
75th percentile: $103,940 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $111,310 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $50,230 per year
Workers employed in Iowa: 380
Versus national median: -7.6% below the U.S. median of $88,720
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.87 - this occupation is more concentrated in Iowa than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median food scientist salary in Iowa is $82,010 per year - 8% below the national median of $88,720 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in food science or food technology.

Food Scientist Salary in Iowa

Wage level	Annual salary
Iowa entry level (10th percentile)	$50,230
Iowa 25th-75th percentile	$65,170 - $103,940
Iowa median	$82,010
Iowa top earners (90th percentile)	$111,310
U.S. median	$88,720

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 380.

The Iowa Job Market: Food Scientist

Metric	Value
Employed in Iowa	380
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.24
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	2.87
Mean annual wage in Iowa	$82,570

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 2.87, Iowa employs food scientists and technologists at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.

Requirements in Iowa

The education path is national - Bachelor’s in food science or food technology - while licensing runs through Iowa’s own boards: No license; IFT Certified Food Scientist credential valued. Verify current requirements with the Iowa licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Food Scientist.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile - Food Scientists and Technologists

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Food Scientists and Technologists annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$52,920
25th	$68,810
50th (median)	$88,720
75th	$116,650
90th	$145,280

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Food Scientists and Technologists, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Food Scientists and Technologists employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	15,200
2034 projected	16,200
Percent change	+6.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a food scientist make in Iowa?

The median annual wage for food scientists and technologists in Iowa is $82,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 8% below the national median of $88,720.

How do I become a food scientist in Iowa?

The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in food science or food technology - with licensing administered at the state level: No license; IFT Certified Food Scientist credential valued. See the steps below.

How many food scientists and technologists work in Iowa?

BLS counts about 380 food scientists and technologists employed in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Food Scientist in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Food Scientists and Technologists (SOC 19-1012), Iowa and national
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)