Food Science Technician salary in Madison, WI
Food Science Technicians in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $47,740 a year ($22.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,630 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $52,130. Pay here is 14% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $55,690. 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 $50,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food science technicians in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,600 | $19.52 |
| 25th percentile | $40,620 | $19.53 |
| Median | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| 75th percentile | $56,600 | $27.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,630 | $30.59 |
| Average (mean) | $50,320 | $24.19 |
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 | $3,978.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,989.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,836.15 |
| Weekly | $918.08 |
| Hourly | $22.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Science Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $73,030 | 60 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $58,290 | 160 |
| Appleton, WI | $48,960 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for food science technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $65,360 |
| Kentucky | $64,770 |
| Washington | $62,070 |
| Vermont | $60,980 |
| Illinois | $60,820 |
| Missouri | $59,570 |
| Nevada | $59,070 |
| Colorado | $58,540 |
| Florida | $58,500 |
| Minnesota | $57,940 |
See Food Science Technician pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technician | $51,750 | $24.88 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,720 | $29.19 |
| Agricultural Technician | $47,030 | $22.61 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $46,540 | $22.37 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $57,920 | $27.85 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $71,470 | $34.36 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $50,090 | $24.08 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $85,570 | $41.14 |
| Chemist | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $77,550 | $37.28 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Microbiologist | $67,940 | $32.66 |
| Conservation Scientist | $85,110 | $40.92 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for food science technicians in the Madison, WI metro area is $47,740 a year, or $22.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food science technicians make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of food science technicians in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $63,630 a year. The top 25% earn $56,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for food science technicians in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,600 a year, and a quarter of food science technicians earn $40,620 or less.
How many food science technicians work in Madison, WI?
About 90 food science technicians are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.