Food Science Technician salary in California
Food Science Technicians in California earn a median of $54,200 a year ($26.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,330 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $52,130. California ranks 17th of 38 states for food science technicians pay. There are 0.22 food science technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $56,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food science technicians in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,790 | $19.61 |
| 25th percentile | $47,080 | $22.64 |
| Median | $54,200 | $26.06 |
| 75th percentile | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,330 | $36.70 |
| Average (mean) | $56,850 | $27.33 |
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 | $4,516.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,258.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,084.62 |
| Weekly | $1,042.31 |
| Hourly | $26.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Science Technician salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $64,620 | 200 |
| Napa, CA | $61,430 | 140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,980 | 310 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,580 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $58,640 | 110 |
| Vallejo, CA | $57,630 | 70 |
| Modesto, CA | $56,220 | 180 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $54,410 | 970 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $53,530 | 80 |
| Salinas, CA | $52,870 | 50 |
| Chico, CA | $51,390 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $50,900 | 390 |
| Merced, CA | $50,750 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $50,390 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $49,790 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | $49,270 | 220 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $48,480 | 170 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,100 | 90 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $46,710 | 60 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,350 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for food science technicians
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Biological Technician | $71,440 | $34.34 |
| Chemical Technician | $59,510 | $28.61 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $58,120 | $27.94 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $61,220 | $29.43 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $60,250 | $28.97 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $102,100 | $49.09 |
| Agricultural Technician | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $69,410 | $33.37 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $70,790 | $34.03 |
| Nuclear Technician | $99,270 | $47.72 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for food science technicians in California is $54,200 a year, or $26.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food science technicians make in California?
The top 10% of food science technicians in California earn at least $76,330 a year. The top 25% earn $64,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for food science technicians in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,790 a year, and a quarter of food science technicians earn $47,080 or less.
How many food science technicians work in California?
About 3,990 food science technicians are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.