Food Science Technician salary in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
Food Science Technicians in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area earn a median of $53,530 a year ($25.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,330 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $52,130. Pay here is 1% lower than the California statewide median of $54,200. There are 0.65 food science technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $56,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food science technicians in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| 25th percentile | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| Median | $53,530 | $25.74 |
| 75th percentile | $65,730 | $31.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,330 | $36.70 |
| Average (mean) | $56,530 | $27.18 |
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 | $4,460.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,230.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,058.85 |
| Weekly | $1,029.42 |
| Hourly | $25.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $53,530 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 |
| 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
| 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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Technician | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Chemical Technician | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $90,720 | $43.61 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $105,810 | $50.87 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $109,920 | $52.85 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $155,960 | $74.98 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $125,070 | $60.13 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,560 | $48.83 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $90,640 | $43.58 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $117,420 | $56.45 |
| Chemist | $86,060 | $41.37 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $92,640 | $44.54 |
| Conservation Scientist | $77,280 | $37.15 |
| School Psychologist | $122,450 | $58.87 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, 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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The median salary for food science technicians in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area is $53,530 a year, or $25.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food science technicians make in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The top 10% of food science technicians in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area earn at least $76,330 a year. The top 25% earn $65,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for food science technicians in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,610 a year, and a quarter of food science technicians earn $45,640 or less.
How many food science technicians work in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
About 80 food science technicians are employed in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.