Food Scientists and Technologists salary in the U.S.
Food Scientists and Technologists in the U.S. earn a median of $88,720 a year ($42.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $145,280 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $95,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food scientists and technologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,920 | $25.44 |
| 25th percentile | $68,810 | $33.08 |
| Median | $88,720 | $42.65 |
| 75th percentile | $116,650 | $56.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,280 | $69.85 |
| Average (mean) | $95,360 | $45.85 |
Half of food scientists and technologists 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 | $7,393.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,696.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,412.31 |
| Weekly | $1,706.15 |
| Hourly | $42.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $108,660 | 90 |
| Missouri | $105,930 | 390 |
| New Jersey | $104,340 | 630 |
| Massachusetts | $103,580 | 420 |
| Florida | $101,160 | 170 |
| Colorado | $99,580 | 320 |
| Minnesota | $99,280 | 670 |
| Kentucky | $98,710 | 170 |
| Alabama | $97,480 | 60 |
| Washington | $94,990 | 250 |
| Illinois | $94,340 | 780 |
| New York | $94,070 | 660 |
| California | $93,950 | 2,210 |
| Virginia | $93,590 | 70 |
| Maryland | $93,330 | 270 |
| Texas | $90,610 | 840 |
| Arizona | $90,450 | n/a |
| Maine | $89,480 | 30 |
| Rhode Island | $87,970 | 40 |
| Georgia | $86,050 | 560 |
| Kansas | $85,130 | 380 |
| Oklahoma | $84,750 | 50 |
| Arkansas | $84,330 | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,380 | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $83,020 | 410 |
| Iowa | $82,010 | 380 |
| Tennessee | $81,760 | 70 |
| Oregon | $81,660 | 270 |
| Nevada | $80,580 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $79,840 | 230 |
| New Mexico | $79,130 | 30 |
| Idaho | $77,440 | 140 |
| Michigan | $76,940 | 430 |
| Ohio | $76,780 | 270 |
| Utah | $73,280 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $72,230 | 230 |
| South Dakota | $71,330 | 90 |
| Indiana | $69,350 | 300 |
| Montana | $52,230 | 30 |
Best-paying metro areas for food scientists and technologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $113,350 | 130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $110,810 | 50 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $108,200 | 270 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $107,970 | 320 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $105,420 | 40 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $105,350 | 180 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $104,200 | 730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $103,580 | 370 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $103,300 | 190 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $101,760 | 440 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,390 | 610 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,000 | 120 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $99,900 | 220 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $99,530 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,930 | 380 |
Metro areas with the most food scientists and technologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 730 | $104,200 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 610 | $100,390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 550 | $91,060 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 440 | $101,760 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 410 | $93,670 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 380 | $98,930 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 370 | $103,580 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 320 | $107,970 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 270 | $108,200 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 230 | $96,210 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 220 | $99,900 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 190 | $103,300 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 180 | $105,350 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 170 | $85,360 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 160 | $76,580 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $127,410 | $61.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| Forester | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| Animal Scientist | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1012. 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 scientists and technologists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for food scientists and technologists in the U.S. is $88,720 a year, or $42.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $145,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food scientists and technologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of food scientists and technologists in the U.S. earn at least $145,280 a year. The top 25% earn $116,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for food scientists and technologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,920 a year, and a quarter of food scientists and technologists earn $68,810 or less.
How many food scientists and technologists work in the U.S.?
About 13,060 food scientists and technologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.