Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$52,920
- 25th Percentile — Junior$68,810
- 50th Percentile — Median$88,720
- 75th Percentile — Senior$116,650
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$145,280
The top 10% of Food Scientists and Technologists earn $145,280 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $52,920, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (est.) | $147,808 | +55.0% |
| District of Columbia (est.) | $144,947 | +52.0% |
| Alaska (est.) | $125,875 | +32.0% |
| Massachusetts | $116,780 | +22.5% |
| Connecticut (est.) | $116,339 | +22.0% |
| New Jersey | $112,340 | +17.8% |
| South Carolina | $111,910 | +17.4% |
| New Hampshire (est.) | $108,710 | +14.0% |
| Colorado | $104,170 | +9.2% |
| Minnesota | $103,960 | +9.0% |
| Missouri | $103,780 | +8.8% |
| Illinois | $103,030 | +8.0% |
| Vermont (est.) | $102,989 | +8.0% |
| Florida | $101,960 | +6.9% |
| Washington | $101,900 | +6.9% |
| Maryland | $100,610 | +5.5% |
| Virginia | $100,340 | +5.2% |
| Delaware (est.) | $100,128 | +5.0% |
| Arkansas | $98,310 | +3.1% |
| California | $97,980 | +2.7% |
| New York | $96,840 | +1.6% |
| Alabama | $96,280 | +1.0% |
| Kentucky | $96,080 | +0.8% |
| Kansas | $93,910 | -1.5% |
| Texas | $90,910 | -4.7% |
| Oklahoma | $90,900 | -4.7% |
| Arizona | $89,580 | -6.1% |
| Wisconsin | $89,380 | -6.3% |
| Georgia | $88,710 | -7.0% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $88,685 | -7.0% |
| Maine | $88,090 | -7.6% |
| South Dakota | $87,850 | -7.9% |
| North Dakota (est.) | $87,731 | -8.0% |
| Utah | $87,460 | -8.3% |
| North Carolina | $86,800 | -9.0% |
| Pennsylvania | $86,640 | -9.1% |
| Michigan | $85,700 | -10.1% |
| Rhode Island | $85,530 | -10.3% |
| Oregon | $84,820 | -11.1% |
| Tennessee | $84,820 | -11.1% |
| Louisiana (est.) | $83,917 | -12.0% |
| Iowa | $82,570 | -13.4% |
| Nevada | $82,220 | -13.8% |
| Nebraska | $81,210 | -14.8% |
| Ohio | $78,810 | -17.4% |
| Mississippi (est.) | $76,288 | -20.0% |
| New Mexico | $76,070 | -20.2% |
| Idaho | $74,680 | -21.7% |
| West Virginia (est.) | $74,381 | -22.0% |
| Indiana | $72,490 | -24.0% |
| Montana | $57,790 | -39.4% |
What Factors Affect Food Scientists and Technologists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Food Scientists and Technologists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Massachusetts pays an average of $116,780, while Montana pays $57,790 — a gap of $58,990 per year.
The middle half of Food Scientists and Technologists earn between $68,810 and $116,650 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $52,920, while the top 10% earn more than $145,280.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Food Scientists and Technologists?
The average salary for Food Scientists and Technologists in the United States is $95,360 per year, with a median of $88,720.
What is the starting salary for Food Scientists and Technologists?
Entry-level Food Scientists and Technologists typically earn between $52,920 and $68,810 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Food Scientists and Technologists the most?
Massachusetts pays Food Scientists and Technologists the most at $116,780 per year on average, followed by New Jersey ($112,340) and South Carolina ($111,910).
How much do Food Scientists and Technologists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $95,360, Food Scientists and Technologists earn approximately $45.85 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Food Scientists and Technologists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 13,060 Food Scientists and Technologists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $95,360 and a median of $88,720 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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