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Food Safety Specialist Salary in California, United States
How much does a Food Safety Specialist make in California, United States?
$75,873 (USD)/year
Average Bonus
$1,426 (USD)
per Year
Total Compensation
$76,322.41
Entry Level
$53,800
Median
$74,896
Senior Level
$84,084
As of July, 23, 2026, the average food safety specialist gross salary in California, United States is $75,873 or an equivalent hourly rate of $36. In addition, food safety specialists earn an average bonus of $1,426. An entry level food safety specialist with 1-3 years of experience earns an average salary of $53,800. At the higher end of the pay range, a senior level food safety specialist with 8+ years of experience earns an average salary of $84,084. Salary estimates are based on salary survey data collected directly from employers in California, United States.
Data powered by ERI
Salary Potential for a Food Safety Specialist
Explore the estimated salary growth for a Food Safety Specialist in California, United States for up to 5 years. The estimated salary of a Food Safety Specialist will be $77,884 in 1 year and $86,475 in 5 years.
View Salary by Year
Estimated Salary
$79,948
Average Growth
5.4 %
The estimated salary for a Food Safety Specialist in 2 years is $79,948, which is 5.4 % average growth. This information is based on ERI's compensation database.
Typical Food Safety Specialist Education
Education data not available for this job
Popular Skills for a Food Safety Specialist
Skills data not available for this job
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Salaries for Similar Job Titles in California, United States
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View moreCost of Living in California, United States
The cost of living in California, United States is 40% higher than the national average.
40% higher
than the national average
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Food Safety Specialist do?
Develops and implements food safety programs, heads risk assessments, implements proper control measures, and evaluates their effectiveness in line with industry standards and regulations. Evaluates food safety key performance indicators for improvements. Communicates and trains food safety policies and principles to employees and growers. Identifies and addresses non-compliance issues and implements corrective actions. Conducts audits and inspections of facilities and their processes.
How much does a Food Safety Specialist make in California, United States?
The average salary for a Food Safety Specialist is $75,873 per year or $36.48 per hour in California, United States. Top earners have reported making up to $84,084. However, the typical pay range in California, United States is between $53,800 and $84,084 annually.
What is the salary trajectory for a Food Safety Specialist?
Food Safety Specialist is projected to see a 14.0 % salary change in 5 years.
How can you increase your salary?
Increasing your salary often starts with understanding your value in today’s job market. You can increase your earning potential by building your skills, advancing your education, moving into a new role or industry, switching companies, or negotiating pay.
How can you negotiate a salary offer?
Negotiating a salary offer involves preparation and finding our your market value. Use our salary calculator to find out how much you should be paid based on what someone in your area, with similar experience, earns. Use this personalized report to help negotiate a higher salary offer or find your dream career.
What are some factors that impact Food Safety Specialist salaries?
Several factors can impact your salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, and more. Understanding how these factors affect your role can help you spot pay gaps and provide opportunities for a competitive salary.
About Our Data
This page is an excerpt of the much more complete compensation information available in ERI's Assessor Series.
ERI compiles the most robust and accurate salary, cost-of-living, and executive compensation survey database available. Data are analyzed using AI and traditional statistics, depending on which approach is best for a particular application. ERI collects salary survey data from five different sources, which you can learn about here.
Verified Sources
Data sourced from internal salary surveys, purchased surveys, public sources, HRIS data, and proprietary databases.
Real-Time Data
Our salary database is updated and verified approximately every six weeks.
Quality Assurance
Along with our data scientists, we have included AI in our rigorous process to analyze and provide the highest quality data.
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