Food Science Technician salary in Illinois
Food Science Technicians in Illinois earn a median of $60,820 a year ($29.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,280 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $52,130. Illinois ranks 5th of 38 states for food science technicians pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.05 food science technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $68,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food science technicians in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| 25th percentile | $50,730 | $24.39 |
| Median | $60,820 | $29.24 |
| 75th percentile | $81,090 | $38.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,280 | $50.13 |
| Average (mean) | $68,480 | $32.92 |
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 | $5,068.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,534.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,339.23 |
| Weekly | $1,169.62 |
| Hourly | $29.24 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $66,630 | 250 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $66,230 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for food science technicians
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Technician | $61,890 | $29.76 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $59,930 | $28.81 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $52,790 | $25.38 |
| Biological Technician | $55,790 | $26.82 |
| Nuclear Technician | $110,390 | $53.07 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $59,410 | $28.56 |
| Agricultural Technician | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $124,790 | $60.00 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $64,890 | $31.20 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $53,280 | $25.62 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for food science technicians in Illinois is $60,820 a year, or $29.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food science technicians make in Illinois?
The top 10% of food science technicians in Illinois earn at least $104,280 a year. The top 25% earn $81,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for food science technicians in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,860 a year, and a quarter of food science technicians earn $50,730 or less.
How many food science technicians work in Illinois?
About 290 food science technicians are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.