Food Scientists and Technologists salary in California
Food Scientists and Technologists in California earn a median of $93,950 a year ($45.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $140,810 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $88,720. California ranks 13th of 39 states for food scientists and technologists pay. There are 0.12 food scientists and technologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $97,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food scientists and technologists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,060 | $28.88 |
| 25th percentile | $74,660 | $35.89 |
| Median | $93,950 | $45.17 |
| 75th percentile | $120,100 | $57.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,810 | $67.70 |
| Average (mean) | $97,980 | $47.11 |
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 | $7,829.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,914.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,613.46 |
| Weekly | $1,806.73 |
| Hourly | $45.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $110,810 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,930 | 380 |
| Merced, CA | $96,430 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $93,750 | 110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $91,060 | 550 |
| Salinas, CA | $90,080 | 30 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $90,040 | 60 |
| Visalia, CA | $89,050 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $88,010 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $85,930 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $85,610 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $85,360 | 170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $83,140 | 40 |
| Modesto, CA | $80,960 | 80 |
| Napa, CA | $80,320 | 80 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $79,900 | 50 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $66,120 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for food scientists and technologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | $108,660 |
| Missouri | $105,930 |
| New Jersey | $104,340 |
| Massachusetts | $103,580 |
| Florida | $101,160 |
| Colorado | $99,580 |
| Minnesota | $99,280 |
| Kentucky | $98,710 |
| Alabama | $97,480 |
| Washington | $94,990 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $139,580 | $67.11 |
| Microbiologist | $108,530 | $52.18 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $98,530 | $47.37 |
| Conservation Scientist | $79,810 | $38.37 |
| Epidemiologist | $110,760 | $53.25 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $91,930 | $44.20 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $102,830 | $49.44 |
| Forester | $107,120 | $51.50 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for food scientists and technologists in California is $93,950 a year, or $45.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $140,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food scientists and technologists make in California?
The top 10% of food scientists and technologists in California earn at least $140,810 a year. The top 25% earn $120,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for food scientists and technologists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,060 a year, and a quarter of food scientists and technologists earn $74,660 or less.
How many food scientists and technologists work in California?
About 2,210 food scientists and technologists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.