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Food Judge Jobs (NOW HIRING)

US Department of the Navy

Food Service Worker

Crane, IN · On-site

$18.23/hr

The primary purpose for the establishment of this job is to perform all or a variety of Food ... Uses judgment to serve uniform individual portions and must be able to concentrate to avoid ...

CNIC Careers

Food Service Worker

Crane, IN · On-site

$18.23/hr

The primary purpose for the establishment of this job is to perform all or a variety of Food ... Uses judgment to serve uniform individual portions and must be able to concentrate to avoid ...

Nola's Creole and Cocktails

Food Expo

Tulsa, OK · On-site

$12.75 - $17/hr

Food orders are prepared and assembled quickly according to recipes and procedures to avoid waste ... Ability to judge quality and quantity of raw and cooked items * Knowledge of workplace safety ...

JUDGE ROTENBERG EDUCATIONAL CENTER

Food Services

Canton, MA · On-site

$17 - $18/hr

Responsibilities include food preparation and distribution, following an individual daily schedule, assigned checklist, and any miscellaneous assigned activities. It is a full time (40 hours per week ...

Judge Rotenberg Educational Center

Food Services

Canton, MA · On-site

$17 - $18/hr

Responsibilities include food preparation and distribution, following an individual daily schedule, assigned checklist, and any miscellaneous assigned activities. It is a full time (40 hours per week ...

Judge Group, Inc.

Maintenance Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$90K - $100K/yr

Partner with plant operations to maintain strict food safety, sanitation, and safety compliance ... Consistent with Judge's Privacy Policy, information obtained from your consent will not be shared ...

Ritual House

Busser/ Food Runner

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

Practicing alcohol awareness and exercising good judgment when serving guests alcohol in compliance ... Current Food Handler certificates * Ability to carry at least 30 lbs. * Strong communication skills

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Food Judge information

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How much do food judge jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for food judge in the United States is $16.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.46 and $17.79 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a food judge?

Food Judges are professionals or experts who evaluate food in competitions, festivals, or culinary events. Their role is to taste, assess, and score dishes based on criteria like flavor, presentation, creativity, and adherence to rules. Food Judges often have backgrounds in culinary arts, food writing, or related fields, and their feedback helps determine winners and guide participants. Their evaluations also contribute to maintaining fairness and high standards in food competitions.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a food judge?

To thrive as a Food Judge, you need an expert palate, comprehensive knowledge of culinary techniques and ingredients, and often formal training in gastronomy or culinary arts. Familiarity with food evaluation criteria, scoring systems, and food safety standards is essential, and some judges may hold certifications from culinary institutions. Strong observational skills, impartiality, and effective communication are vital soft skills for providing fair and constructive feedback. These competencies ensure consistent, high-quality judging and uphold the integrity and credibility of culinary competitions.

What are common challenges faced by food judges during culinary competitions?

Food Judges often encounter challenges such as maintaining objectivity when tasting multiple dishes in succession and managing palate fatigue. They must also be mindful of food allergies or dietary restrictions while providing fair and constructive feedback to contestants. Additionally, Food Judges frequently work in fast-paced environments where they need to make quick, informed decisions, and collaborate closely with other judges to ensure consistency in scoring and evaluation.

What is the difference between Food Judge vs Food Taster?

AspectFood JudgeFood Taster
Required CredentialsOften requires culinary or food science background, certifications varyTypically no formal credentials needed, focus on sensory skills
Work EnvironmentFood testing labs, competitions, quality assurance settingsRestaurants, food companies, product testing events
Employer & IndustryFood companies, quality assurance firms, culinary competitionsFood manufacturers, marketing teams, product development
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in food quality and evaluationEvaluating sensory and tasting roles in food industry

Food Judges and Food Tasters both evaluate food, but Food Judges typically have formal training and work in quality assurance or competitions, while Food Tasters focus on sensory evaluation in product testing without formal credentials. Their work environments and employer types also differ, reflecting their specific roles in the food industry.

How do you become a food judge?

To become a food judge, individuals typically need a strong knowledge of food and flavors, which can be gained through culinary education or experience in the food industry. Many food judges also develop refined palate skills and may participate in training or certification programs to assess taste, presentation, and quality objectively.

How much money do food judges make?

Food judges typically earn between $20,000 and $50,000 annually, depending on the level of experience, the organization, and whether they are volunteering or paid. Some may receive per diem or stipends for specific events or competitions, but many food judging roles are unpaid or offer minimal compensation.
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Food Judge jobs near you
Infographic showing various Food Judge job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 69% Full Time, 30% Part Time, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $33,769 per year, or $16.2 per hour.

Food /Protein Chemistry Scientist

Just Food Company

Emeryville, CA

$135K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

About the Role

We are looking for a Food /Protein Chemistry Scientist to help advance the science behind our food and protein platforms.

This is a highly hands-on role for someone who combines deep technical expertise in protein chemistry and food science with strong experimental judgment and practical problem-solving skills. You will design and execute studies to better understand protein structure, extraction, functionality, stability, and performance - and translate those findings into better ingredients, products, and processes.

We are looking for someone who doesn't simply execute experiments. You should be comfortable working through ambiguous technical challenges, developing hypotheses, determining what to test next, and turning complex data into clear recommendations that move the work forward.

What You'll Do

  • Design and execute systematic studies to understand and optimize protein extraction, yield, functionality, and performance.
  • Develop and optimize novel extraction and processing approaches, balancing protein functionality, food-grade requirements, scalability, and downstream processing constraints.
  • Develop and apply analytical methods to understand protein structure-function relationships and identify drivers of functional performance.
  • Apply protein chemistry, food science, and computational approaches to troubleshoot technical challenges and improve protein functionality and stability.
  • Evaluate protein performance through processing, formulation, storage, and shelf life, translating findings into actionable recommendations for product and process development.
  • Independently interpret complex or ambiguous results, develop hypotheses, and determine the most valuable next experiments.
  • Partner closely with Product Development, Process/Manufacturing, Quality, and other technical teams to translate laboratory findings into practical, scalable solutions.
  • Maintain rigorous experimental documentation and clearly communicate findings, conclusions, and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What We're Looking For

  • PhD in Food Science, Protein Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a closely related field, with a minimum of 2 years of relevant industry experience; or a Master's degree with 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
  • Strong hands-on experience with protein extraction, purification, characterization, functionality, and/or process optimization, ideally within food or food-adjacent applications.
  • Strong understanding of protein structure-function relationships and how processing conditions influence protein behavior and performance.
  • Direct experience with multiple protein characterization techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectroscopy, rheology, SDS-PAGE, or related analytical methods.
  • Demonstrated experience designing and executing multi-variable experiments using DOE, factorial designs, or other systematic optimization approaches.
  • Working knowledge of sequence- and structure-based bioinformatics tools such as BLAST, structure alignment tools, or ProtParam-type sequence analysis.
  • Strong analytical judgment and ability to synthesize complex experimental data into clear conclusions and recommendations.
  • Excellent experimental discipline, documentation, and attention to detail.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with both highly technical and non-technical audiences.
  • High degree of independence and self-direction. You are comfortable determining the next question or experiment rather than relying on a predefined protocol.

Nice to Have

  • Experience working specifically with plant, alternative, or novel proteins.
  • Experience translating laboratory findings into food applications or scalable manufacturing processes.
  • Hands-on experience with cell cultivation, fermentation, or fermentation-derived proteins.
  • Experience working across both fundamental protein science and applied food/product development.

The Total Package

We develop compensation using market data, internal benchmarks, and candidate experience to ensure fairness and competitiveness.

Compensation: The expected base salary range for this role (Emeryville, CA) is $135,000 to 158,000 - the level and respective final compensation will depend on experience and technical depth.

In addition, we offer:

  • Equity
  • Up to 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage (up to 90% for dependents)
  • Flexible time off
  • 9 Holidays + company closure between Christmas & New Years 

Additional Information & Requirements 

  • This is a full-time regular position based onsite (5 days/week) at our headquarters in Emeryville, CA. We are prioritizing local candidates at this time.  
  • At this time, Just Food Company is unable to sponsor or transfer employment visas. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.  
  • In compliance with federal law, all new hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Form I-9 upon hire. 
  • Just Food Company and its subsidiaries participate in E-Verify. 

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