Food Scientists and Technologists salary in Virginia
Food Scientists and Technologists in Virginia earn a median of $93,590 a year ($44.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,700 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $88,720. Virginia ranks 14th of 39 states for food scientists and technologists pay. There are 0.02 food scientists and technologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.21). The average (mean) salary is $100,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food scientists and technologists in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,000 | $31.73 |
| 25th percentile | $73,970 | $35.56 |
| Median | $93,590 | $44.99 |
| 75th percentile | $129,730 | $62.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,700 | $77.26 |
| Average (mean) | $100,340 | $48.24 |
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 | $7,799.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,899.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,599.62 |
| Weekly | $1,799.81 |
| Hourly | $44.99 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $113,350 | 130 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,030 | $46.17 |
| Conservation Scientist | $77,380 | $37.20 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $81,600 | $39.23 |
| Forester | $71,990 | $34.61 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $72,340 | $34.78 |
| Microbiologist | $77,820 | $37.41 |
| Epidemiologist | $84,930 | $40.83 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $73,920 | $35.54 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $105,780 | $50.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,800 | $43.66 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,240 | $32.33 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for food scientists and technologists in Virginia is $93,590 a year, or $44.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food scientists and technologists make in Virginia?
The top 10% of food scientists and technologists in Virginia earn at least $160,700 a year. The top 25% earn $129,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for food scientists and technologists in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,000 a year, and a quarter of food scientists and technologists earn $73,970 or less.
How many food scientists and technologists work in Virginia?
About 70 food scientists and technologists are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.