Food Science Technician salary in the U.S.
Food Science Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $52,130 a year ($25.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,820 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $56,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food science technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,820 | $19.14 |
| 25th percentile | $46,020 | $22.12 |
| Median | $52,130 | $25.06 |
| 75th percentile | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,820 | $37.89 |
| Average (mean) | $56,660 | $27.24 |
Half of food science technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,344.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,172.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,005 |
| Weekly | $1,002.50 |
| Hourly | $25.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Science Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $65,360 | 150 |
| Kentucky | $64,770 | 160 |
| Washington | $62,070 | 660 |
| Vermont | $60,980 | 50 |
| Illinois | $60,820 | 290 |
| Missouri | $59,570 | 150 |
| Nevada | $59,070 | 110 |
| Colorado | $58,540 | 270 |
| Florida | $58,500 | 250 |
| Minnesota | $57,940 | 380 |
| Maryland | $57,880 | 280 |
| Ohio | $57,060 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $56,850 | 260 |
| New Jersey | $56,730 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $55,690 | 540 |
| New York | $55,470 | 580 |
| California | $54,200 | 3,990 |
| Georgia | $53,150 | 260 |
| Michigan | $52,130 | 250 |
| Mississippi | $51,460 | 50 |
| Iowa | $50,740 | 420 |
| Oregon | $50,590 | 820 |
| Connecticut | $49,700 | n/a |
| Idaho | $48,980 | 560 |
| South Dakota | $48,760 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $48,640 | 130 |
| Nebraska | $48,530 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,060 | 590 |
| Texas | $47,760 | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $47,240 | 50 |
| Arkansas | $46,810 | 140 |
| New Mexico | $46,500 | 120 |
| Utah | $45,110 | 80 |
| Indiana | $44,630 | 530 |
| Louisiana | $44,310 | 30 |
| Alabama | $40,940 | 30 |
| Kansas | $39,930 | 60 |
| South Carolina | $39,480 | 40 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,050 | 50 |
Best-paying metro areas for food science technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $86,300 | 40 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $84,320 | 60 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $83,030 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $79,850 | 420 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $73,030 | 60 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $72,950 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $66,630 | 250 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $66,230 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $64,620 | 200 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,480 | 80 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $63,160 | 130 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $61,870 | 80 |
| Napa, CA | $61,430 | 140 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $61,410 | 200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,980 | 310 |
Metro areas with the most food science technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 970 | $54,410 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 580 | $60,020 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 420 | $79,850 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 390 | $50,900 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 350 | $49,460 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 310 | $60,980 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 300 | $44,550 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 280 | $51,570 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 250 | $66,630 |
| Fresno, CA | 250 | $46,350 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 250 | $48,060 |
| Visalia, CA | 220 | $49,270 |
| Merced, CA | 210 | $50,750 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 200 | $61,410 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 200 | $64,620 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $61,990 | $29.81 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $54,560 | $26.23 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $72,060 | $34.65 |
| Agricultural Technician | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $53,350 | $25.65 |
| Nuclear Technician | $110,240 | $53.00 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $64,790 | $31.15 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food science technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for food science technicians in the U.S. is $52,130 a year, or $25.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food science technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of food science technicians in the U.S. earn at least $78,820 a year. The top 25% earn $63,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for food science technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,820 a year, and a quarter of food science technicians earn $46,020 or less.
How many food science technicians work in the U.S.?
About 14,600 food science technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.