Food Science Technician salary in Salinas, CA
Food Science Technicians in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $52,870 a year ($25.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,680 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $52,130. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $54,200. There are 0.25 food science technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $55,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food science technicians in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| 25th percentile | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| Median | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| 75th percentile | $60,770 | $29.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,680 | $39.27 |
| Average (mean) | $55,600 | $26.73 |
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 | $4,405.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,202.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,033.46 |
| Weekly | $1,016.73 |
| Hourly | $25.42 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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
| 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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| Agricultural Technician | $53,510 | $25.73 |
| Biological Technician | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $63,510 | $30.53 |
| Chemical Technician | $54,220 | $26.07 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $99,770 | $47.97 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $138,590 | $66.63 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $125,300 | $60.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $98,430 | $47.32 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $101,560 | $48.83 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $104,540 | $50.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $77,020 | $37.03 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $84,900 | $40.82 |
| Chemist | $95,080 | $45.71 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
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 Salinas, CA?
The median salary for food science technicians in the Salinas, CA metro area is $52,870 a year, or $25.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food science technicians make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of food science technicians in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $81,680 a year. The top 25% earn $60,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for food science technicians in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,640 a year, and a quarter of food science technicians earn $45,220 or less.
How many food science technicians work in Salinas, CA?
About 50 food science technicians are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.