Food Scientist and Technologist Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists earn a median $88,720 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$88,720
$42.65 per hour
Range
$52,920 – $145,280
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
13,060
across the U.S.
Food Scientist and Technologist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$71,245
per year · effective tax rate 19.7%
$5,937Monthly
$2,969Twice a month
$2,740Every 2 weeks
$34.25Hourly
- Federal income tax$10,688
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,501
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,286
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$71,245
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,920 | $25.44 | $44,701 |
| 25th percentile | $68,810 | $33.08 | $57,238 |
| Median (50th) | $88,720 | $42.65 | $71,245 |
| 75th percentile | $116,650 | $56.08 | $90,893 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,280 | $69.85 | $110,565 |
Best cities for food scientists and technologists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $100,390 | $74,630 | $72,040 | 610 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $101,760 | $75,022 | $71,571 | 440 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $104,200 | $77,027 | $68,430 | 730 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $91,060 | $67,468 | $59,409 | 550 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $104,200
- Minneapolis, MN — $101,760
- Chicago, IL — $100,390
- Los Angeles, CA — $91,060
Food Scientist and Technologist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $108,660 | $79,910 | $41,140 – $163,900 | 90 |
| Missouri | $105,930 | $79,310 | $57,400 – $154,540 | 390 |
| New Jersey | $104,340 | $77,777 | $64,330 – $167,470 | 630 |
| Massachusetts | $103,580 | $76,740 | $68,990 – $183,260 | 420 |
| Florida | $101,160 | $79,996 | $48,090 – $139,480 | 170 |
| Colorado | $99,580 | $75,211 | $66,280 – $161,640 | 320 |
| Minnesota | $99,280 | $73,446 | $61,360 – $152,600 | 670 |
| Kentucky | $98,710 | $74,935 | $47,480 – $137,650 | 170 |
| Alabama | $97,480 | $72,798 | $58,510 – $122,790 | 60 |
| Washington | $94,990 | $75,655 | $56,520 – $162,740 | 250 |
| Illinois | $94,340 | $70,673 | $63,730 – $166,670 | 780 |
| New York | $94,070 | $70,498 | $58,740 – $137,570 | 660 |
| California | $93,950 | $69,195 | $60,060 – $140,810 | 2,210 |
| Virginia | $93,590 | $70,103 | $66,000 – $160,700 | 70 |
| Maryland | $93,330 | $70,418 | $59,640 – $145,650 | 270 |
| Texas | $90,610 | $72,574 | $46,810 – $136,100 | 840 |
| Arizona | $90,450 | $70,409 | $55,890 – $134,320 | — |
| Maine | $89,480 | $66,877 | $56,300 – $122,480 | 30 |
| Rhode Island | $87,970 | $68,035 | $65,580 – $100,590 | 40 |
| Georgia | $86,050 | $65,523 | $31,030 – $151,280 | 560 |
| Kansas | $85,130 | $64,768 | $51,670 – $146,820 | 380 |
| Oklahoma | $84,750 | $65,183 | $63,030 – $127,780 | 50 |
| Arkansas | $84,330 | $65,080 | $49,120 – $165,790 | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,380 | $64,928 | $54,460 – $120,730 | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $83,020 | $64,215 | $57,410 – $131,840 | 410 |
| Iowa | $82,010 | $64,059 | $50,230 – $111,310 | 380 |
| Tennessee | $81,760 | $66,348 | $64,660 – $105,670 | 70 |
| Oregon | $81,660 | $59,962 | $58,390 – $118,250 | 270 |
| Nevada | $80,580 | $65,518 | $52,890 – $106,660 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $79,840 | $62,321 | $49,850 – $138,460 | 230 |
| New Mexico | $79,130 | $61,945 | $53,170 – $100,350 | 30 |
| Idaho | $77,440 | $60,313 | $41,600 – $117,340 | 140 |
| Michigan | $76,940 | $59,938 | $55,620 – $134,910 | 430 |
| Ohio | $76,780 | $61,516 | $46,870 – $121,830 | 270 |
| Utah | $73,280 | $58,051 | $53,200 – $126,410 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $72,230 | $57,237 | $50,710 – $129,740 | 230 |
| South Dakota | $71,330 | $59,011 | $41,990 – $147,530 | 90 |
| Indiana | $69,350 | $55,601 | $44,180 – $108,410 | 300 |
| Montana | $52,230 | $42,449 | $40,070 – $76,250 | 30 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food scientist and technologist make?
The national median salary for food scientists and technologists is $88,720 a year ($42.65 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $52,920 and the top 10% earn over $145,280. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays food scientists and technologists the most?
South Carolina has the highest median pay at $108,660. After taxes and local prices, Chicago, IL offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many food scientists and technologists are there in the U.S.?
About 13,060 people work as food scientists and technologists nationwide.