Food Science Technician Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Food Science Technicians in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $54,410 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,877 take-home, or $3,656 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food science technician salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,349
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,373
- Medicare (1.45%)$789
- California income tax$1,314
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$707
- Take-home pay$43,877
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Food Science Technician pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,540 | $19.01 | $32,865 | $2,739 |
| 25th percentile | $48,030 | $23.09 | $39,216 | $3,268 |
| Median (50th) | $54,410 | $26.16 | $43,877 | $3,656 |
| 75th percentile | $63,400 | $30.48 | $50,438 | $4,203 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,990 | $36.53 | $58,434 | $4,870 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $54,410 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food science technician's $43,877 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,636 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.6× the national concentration of food science technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food science technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $60,020 | $47,762 | $42,431 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $54,410 | $43,877 | $38,636 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food science technician make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median food science technician salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $54,410 a year, or about $26.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,030 and $63,400.
What is a food science technician’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $54,410 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $43,877 a year ($3,656 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,021 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a food science technician?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $52,130. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,636 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food science technician afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median food science technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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