Food Scientists and Technologists salary in Illinois
Food Scientists and Technologists in Illinois earn a median of $94,340 a year ($45.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 780 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,670 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $88,720. Illinois ranks 11th of 39 states for food scientists and technologists pay. There are 0.13 food scientists and technologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $103,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food scientists and technologists in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,730 | $30.64 |
| 25th percentile | $72,470 | $34.84 |
| Median | $94,340 | $45.35 |
| 75th percentile | $129,500 | $62.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,670 | $80.13 |
| Average (mean) | $103,030 | $49.53 |
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 | $7,861.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,930.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,628.46 |
| Weekly | $1,814.23 |
| Hourly | $45.35 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $108,200 | 270 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,390 | 610 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| Microbiologist | $92,050 | $44.26 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $82,640 | $39.73 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $79,490 | $38.21 |
| Conservation Scientist | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| Epidemiologist | $102,720 | $49.39 |
| Forester | $82,160 | $39.50 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $66,190 | $31.82 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $87,010 | $41.83 |
| Animal Scientist | $47,930 | $23.05 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Chemist | $85,230 | $40.98 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for food scientists and technologists in Illinois is $94,340 a year, or $45.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food scientists and technologists make in Illinois?
The top 10% of food scientists and technologists in Illinois earn at least $166,670 a year. The top 25% earn $129,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for food scientists and technologists in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,730 a year, and a quarter of food scientists and technologists earn $72,470 or less.
How many food scientists and technologists work in Illinois?
About 780 food scientists and technologists are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.