BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Food Scientists and Technologists in Iowa

$82,570 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$39.7 per hour

▼ 13.4% below U.S. average32nd of 39 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$82,570per year
Median$82,010per year
Hourly$39.7per hour
10th – 90th percentile$50,230 – $111,310per year

Food Scientists and Technologists Pay Range in Iowa

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$50,230
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$65,170
  • 50th Percentile — Median$82,010
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$103,940
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$111,310

Half of Food Scientists and Technologists in Iowa earn more than $82,010. The top 10% make $111,310 or more, while entry-level workers start around $50,230.

Food Scientists and Technologists in Iowa: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Iowa ranks 32nd of 39 states for Food Scientists and Technologists pay, at $82,570 per year (13.4% below the U.S. average of $95,360).
  • 380 people work as Food Scientists and Technologists in Iowa — 2.9% of all U.S. Food Scientists and Technologists jobs.
  • Location quotient 2.87: Food Scientists and Technologists jobs are more concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,230; the top 10% earn over $111,310.
  • Hourly equivalent: $39.7 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Massachusetts at $116,780.
  • Among science jobs in Iowa, Physicists pays the most ($176,230).

Food Scientists and Technologists Job Market in Iowa

Key factors affecting compensation

Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Food Scientists and Technologists here earn $82,570 on average, placing the state 32nd nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $82,570 is roughly equivalent to $96,012 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Michigan ($85,700), Rhode Island ($85,530), Oregon ($84,820) are the closest alternatives for Food Scientists and Technologists weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Food Scientists and Technologists salary in Iowa?

The average Food Scientists and Technologists salary in Iowa is $82,570 per year (median $82,010), which is 13.4% below the national average of $95,360.

How does Iowa rank for Food Scientists and Technologists pay?

Iowa ranks 32nd out of 39 states. The highest-paying state is Massachusetts ($116,780/yr).

How much do entry-level Food Scientists and Technologists make in Iowa?

The lowest-paid 10% of Food Scientists and Technologists in Iowa earn about $50,230 per year and the 25th percentile is $65,170.

How much do Food Scientists and Technologists make per hour in Iowa?

About $39.7 per hour, based on the $82,570 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Food Scientists and Technologists work in Iowa?

BLS counts 380 Food Scientists and Technologists jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).

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