Food Science Technicians pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,260 or more. The middle half of food science technicians in Merced earn between $46,880 and $70,260.
- $45K10th
- $47K25th
- $51KMedian
- $70K75th
- $70K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,410 | $4,701 | $27.12 |
| Median | $50,750 | $4,229 | $24.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,880 | $3,907 | $22.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $70,260 | $5,855 | $33.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Science Technicians pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Food science technicians in Merced earn about the same as the California average ($56,850) and about the same as the U.S. average ($56,660). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $52,130.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $56,410 | $50,750 | $45,350 | $70,260 | 210 |
| California | $56,850 | $54,200 | $40,790 | $76,330 | 3,990 |
| United States | $56,660 | $52,130 | $39,820 | $78,820 | 14,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Science Technicians salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $56,410, a single filer in Merced takes home about $45,928 a year, or $3,827 a month and $1,766 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Merced a good place for food science technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $56,410 buys what about $57,400 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Science Technicians salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 9th of 20 California metro areas for this job; Sacramento pays the most ($66,920).
- Sacramento$66,920
- San Jose$63,420
- San Francisco$63,340
- Napa$63,120
- Vallejo$61,670
- Santa Rosa$60,720
- Los Angeles$56,900
- San Luis Obispo$56,530
- Merced$56,410
- Modesto$55,930
Highest-paying cities for food science technicians
Columbus, OH pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($78,750).
- Columbus, OH$78,750
- Jacksonville, FL$77,640
- Louisville, KY$76,400
- Seattle, WA$72,940
- Chicago, IL$71,440
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Food Science Technicians salary in Merced: questions
How much do food science technicians make an hour in Merced?
$27.12 an hour on average, and $24.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food science technicians salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food science technicians take-home pay in Merced?
About $45,928 a year ($3,827 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,410. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food science technicians earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($56,660).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4013; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 28.14, this job is 28.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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