Food Science Technician Salary
Food Science Technicians earn a median $52,130 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$52,130
$25.06 per hour
Range
$39,820 – $78,820
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
14,600
across the U.S.
Food Science Technician take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$44,066
per year · effective tax rate 15.5%
$3,672Monthly
$1,836Twice a month
$1,695Every 2 weeks
$21.19Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,076
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,232
- Medicare (1.45%)$756
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$44,066
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,820 | $19.14 | $34,175 |
| 25th percentile | $46,020 | $22.13 | $39,157 |
| Median (50th) | $52,130 | $25.06 | $44,066 |
| 75th percentile | $63,270 | $30.42 | $53,017 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,820 | $37.89 | $64,280 |
Best cities for food science technicians (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $60,020 | $47,762 | $42,431 | 580 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $54,410 | $43,877 | $38,636 | 970 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $60,020
- Los Angeles, CA — $54,410
Food Science Technician salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $65,360 | $51,753 | $47,250 – $78,700 | 150 |
| Kentucky | $64,770 | $52,073 | $42,170 – $84,410 | 160 |
| Washington | $62,070 | $52,053 | $45,930 – $79,850 | 660 |
| Vermont | $60,980 | $49,568 | $46,620 – $71,270 | 50 |
| Illinois | $60,820 | $48,183 | $46,860 – $104,280 | 290 |
| Missouri | $59,570 | $48,182 | $41,430 – $83,570 | 150 |
| Nevada | $59,070 | $49,643 | $47,220 – $66,590 | 110 |
| Colorado | $58,540 | $47,350 | $52,340 – $82,140 | 270 |
| Florida | $58,500 | $49,185 | $37,620 – $91,820 | 250 |
| Minnesota | $57,940 | $46,318 | $42,010 – $74,270 | 380 |
| Maryland | $57,880 | $46,301 | $46,320 – $77,520 | 280 |
| Ohio | $57,060 | $47,241 | $41,000 – $86,300 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $56,850 | $45,236 | $44,900 – $73,300 | 260 |
| New Jersey | $56,730 | $46,176 | $38,920 – $77,450 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $55,690 | $45,258 | $40,600 – $73,030 | 540 |
| New York | $55,470 | $44,352 | $44,270 – $75,080 | 580 |
| California | $54,200 | $43,724 | $40,790 – $76,330 | 3,990 |
| Georgia | $53,150 | $42,750 | $33,040 – $80,620 | 260 |
| Michigan | $52,130 | $42,102 | $39,290 – $68,610 | 250 |
| Mississippi | $51,460 | $42,202 | $35,930 – $78,520 | 50 |
| Iowa | $50,740 | $41,673 | $40,200 – $66,370 | 420 |
| Oregon | $50,590 | $39,232 | $41,090 – $63,260 | 820 |
| Connecticut | $49,700 | $40,802 | $36,930 – $61,150 | — |
| Idaho | $48,980 | $40,048 | $37,980 – $65,580 | 560 |
| South Dakota | $48,760 | $41,359 | $33,790 – $54,440 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $48,640 | $39,830 | $39,740 – $63,280 | 130 |
| Nebraska | $48,530 | $39,845 | $44,840 – $59,670 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,060 | $39,321 | $37,590 – $62,200 | 590 |
| Texas | $47,760 | $40,555 | $37,040 – $76,130 | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $47,240 | $38,557 | $38,120 – $52,690 | 50 |
| Arkansas | $46,810 | $38,179 | $42,600 – $69,120 | 140 |
| New Mexico | $46,500 | $38,511 | $35,960 – $51,480 | 120 |
| Utah | $45,110 | $37,362 | $41,240 – $84,930 | 80 |
| Indiana | $44,630 | $36,753 | $40,410 – $68,550 | 530 |
| Louisiana | $44,310 | $36,840 | $35,280 – $63,230 | 30 |
| Alabama | $40,940 | $33,293 | $38,530 – $62,060 | 30 |
| Kansas | $39,930 | $32,835 | $33,390 – $71,320 | 60 |
| South Carolina | $39,480 | $32,690 | $36,270 – $60,040 | 40 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food science technician make?
The national median salary for food science technicians is $52,130 a year ($25.06 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,820 and the top 10% earn over $78,820. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays food science technicians the most?
Virginia has the highest median pay at $65,360. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many food science technicians are there in the U.S.?
About 14,600 people work as food science technicians nationwide.