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Top 15 cities for food scientists and technologists by average salary
| Boston, MA | $120,200 |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $117,020 |
| Washington, DC | $113,320 |
| San Francisco, CA | $110,580 |
| New York, NY | $110,190 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $109,960 |
| Kansas City, MO | $108,090 |
| Chicago, IL | $108,070 |
| St. Louis, MO | $107,530 |
| Denver, CO | $107,360 |
| Atlanta, GA | $104,790 |
| Fayetteville, AR | $104,620 |
| Seattle, WA | $104,290 |
| Austin, TX | $103,930 |
| Buffalo, NY | $102,230 |
Map: Food Scientists and Technologists salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by state
Massachusetts pays food scientists and technologists the most statewide, $116,780 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $116,780 | $103,580 | 420 | 1 | $120,200 | $120,200 |
| Washington, D.C. | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $113,320 | $113,320 |
| New Jersey | $112,340 | $104,340 | 630 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| South Carolina | $111,910 | $108,660 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado | $104,170 | $99,580 | 320 | 1 | $107,360 | $107,360 |
| Minnesota | $103,960 | $99,280 | 670 | 1 | $109,960 | $109,960 |
| Missouri | $103,780 | $105,930 | 390 | 2 | $108,090 | $107,530 |
| Illinois | $103,030 | $94,340 | 780 | 1 | $108,070 | $108,070 |
| Florida | $101,960 | $101,160 | 170 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington | $101,900 | $94,990 | 250 | 1 | $104,290 | $104,290 |
| Maryland | $100,610 | $93,330 | 270 | 1 | $101,320 | $101,320 |
| Virginia | $100,340 | $93,590 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arkansas | $98,310 | $84,330 | 310 | 2 | $104,620 | $95,860 |
| California | $97,980 | $93,950 | 2,210 | 17 | $117,020 | $82,740 |
| New York | $96,840 | $94,070 | 660 | 4 | $110,190 | $86,590 |
| Alabama | $96,280 | $97,480 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $96,080 | $98,710 | 170 | 1 | $84,260 | $84,260 |
| Kansas | $93,910 | $85,130 | 380 | 2 | $83,650 | $70,950 |
| Texas | $90,910 | $90,610 | 840 | 4 | $103,930 | $90,610 |
| Oklahoma | $90,900 | $84,750 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona | $89,580 | $90,450 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $89,380 | $83,020 | 410 | 2 | $94,160 | $78,900 |
| Georgia | $88,710 | $86,050 | 560 | 1 | $104,790 | $104,790 |
| Maine | $88,090 | $89,480 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| South Dakota | $87,850 | $71,330 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Utah | $87,460 | $73,280 | 120 | 1 | $90,260 | $90,260 |
| North Carolina | $86,800 | $79,840 | 230 | 2 | $92,000 | $84,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,640 | $83,380 | 400 | 4 | $98,920 | $85,520 |
| Michigan | $85,700 | $76,940 | 430 | 4 | $100,270 | $78,560 |
| Rhode Island | $85,530 | $87,970 | 40 | 1 | $87,740 | $87,740 |
| Oregon | $84,820 | $81,660 | 270 | 2 | $88,720 | $83,210 |
| Tennessee | $84,820 | $81,760 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Iowa | $82,570 | $82,010 | 380 | 2 | $83,260 | $80,250 |
| Nevada | $82,220 | $80,580 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nebraska | $81,210 | $72,230 | 230 | 2 | $95,100 | $61,830 |
| Ohio | $78,810 | $76,780 | 270 | 2 | $96,060 | $82,210 |
| New Mexico | $76,070 | $79,130 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Idaho | $74,680 | $77,440 | 140 | 1 | $71,250 | $71,250 |
| Indiana | $72,490 | $69,350 | 300 | 1 | $73,260 | $73,260 |
| Montana | $57,790 | $52,230 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
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Food Scientists and Technologists salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $120,200 | $103,580 | $57.79 | 370 |
| San Jose, CA | $117,020 | $110,810 | $56.26 | 50 |
| Washington, DC | $113,320 | $113,350 | $54.48 | 130 |
| San Francisco, CA | $110,580 | $98,930 | $53.17 | 380 |
| New York, NY | $110,190 | $104,200 | $52.98 | 730 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $109,960 | $101,760 | $52.86 | 440 |
| Kansas City, MO | $108,090 | $105,350 | $51.96 | 180 |
| Chicago, IL | $108,070 | $100,390 | $51.96 | 610 |
| St. Louis, MO | $107,530 | $108,200 | $51.70 | 270 |
| Denver, CO | $107,360 | $99,900 | $51.61 | 220 |
| Atlanta, GA | $104,790 | $107,970 | $50.38 | 320 |
| Fayetteville, AR | $104,620 | $103,300 | $50.30 | 190 |
| Seattle, WA | $104,290 | $100,000 | $50.14 | 120 |
| Austin, TX | $103,930 | $95,030 | $49.96 | 60 |
| Buffalo, NY | $102,230 | $99,530 | $49.15 | 110 |
| Merced, CA | $102,000 | $96,430 | $49.04 | 40 |
| Baltimore, MD | $101,320 | $93,330 | $48.71 | 150 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $100,270 | $105,420 | $48.21 | 40 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $98,920 | $96,210 | $47.56 | 230 |
| San Antonio, TX | $98,000 | $98,220 | $47.12 | 60 |
| Dallas, TX | $97,480 | $93,670 | $46.87 | 410 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $96,580 | $91,060 | $46.43 | 550 |
| Sacramento, CA | $96,510 | $88,010 | $46.40 | 110 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $96,060 | $90,210 | $46.19 | 130 |
| Little Rock, AR | $95,860 | $94,770 | $46.09 | 50 |
| Omaha, NE | $95,100 | $90,770 | $45.72 | 60 |
| San Diego, CA | $94,460 | $85,930 | $45.42 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $94,240 | $85,610 | $45.31 | 90 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $94,160 | $86,230 | $45.27 | 90 |
| Salinas, CA | $93,080 | $90,080 | $44.75 | 30 |
| Stockton, CA | $92,850 | $90,040 | $44.64 | 60 |
| Visalia, CA | $92,300 | $89,050 | $44.38 | 60 |
| Rochester, NY | $92,250 | $90,040 | $44.35 | 60 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $92,170 | $92,690 | $44.31 | 40 |
| Modesto, CA | $92,170 | $80,960 | $44.31 | 80 |
| Riverside, CA | $92,050 | $85,360 | $44.26 | 170 |
| Charlotte, NC | $92,000 | $87,270 | $44.23 | 40 |
| Houston, TX | $90,610 | $88,210 | $43.56 | 100 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $90,260 | $73,280 | $43.39 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $89,920 | $93,750 | $43.23 | 110 |
| Oxnard, CA | $89,910 | $83,140 | $43.23 | 40 |
| Napa, CA | $89,210 | $80,320 | $42.89 | 80 |
| Salem, OR | $88,720 | $85,960 | $42.65 | 30 |
| Lancaster, PA | $88,120 | $86,320 | $42.37 | 40 |
| Providence, RI | $87,740 | $86,150 | $42.19 | 70 |
| Albany, NY | $86,590 | $82,640 | $41.63 | 50 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $86,410 | $79,900 | $41.54 | 50 |
| Allentown, PA | $85,520 | $75,980 | $41.12 | 50 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $84,260 | $78,610 | $40.51 | 70 |
| Louisville, KY | $84,260 | $74,150 | $40.51 | 30 |
| Raleigh, NC | $84,180 | $68,590 | $40.47 | 110 |
| Lansing, MI | $84,070 | $63,030 | $40.42 | 40 |
| Wichita, KS | $83,650 | $79,630 | $40.22 | 60 |
| Sioux City, IA | $83,260 | $78,260 | $40.03 | 40 |
| Portland, OR | $83,210 | $80,050 | $40.01 | 150 |
| Hanford, CA | $82,740 | $66,120 | $39.78 | 30 |
| Columbus, OH | $82,210 | $79,560 | $39.52 | 90 |
| Des Moines, IA | $80,250 | $76,580 | $38.58 | 160 |
| Madison, WI | $78,900 | $66,080 | $37.93 | 40 |
| Detroit, MI | $78,560 | $67,790 | $37.77 | 130 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $73,260 | $69,970 | $35.22 | 70 |
| Boise, ID | $71,250 | $73,420 | $34.26 | n/a |
| Lawrence, KS | $70,950 | $64,210 | $34.11 | 40 |
| Lincoln, NE | $61,830 | $56,250 | $29.73 | 70 |
Related jobs
- Biochemists and BiophysicistsU.S. average $129,840
- Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsU.S. average $83,020
- Biological Scientists, All OtherU.S. average $106,330
- EpidemiologistsU.S. average $97,890
- Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsU.S. average $116,840
- Life Scientists, All OtherU.S. average $107,860
- MicrobiologistsU.S. average $97,600
- Conservation ScientistsU.S. average $77,130
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Food Scientists and Technologists salary: questions
Where do food scientists and technologists make the most money?
In Boston, MA, with an average of $120,200 a year, among the 64 metro areas we cover.
What is the average food scientists and technologists salary in the U.S.?
$95,360 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $88,720, so half of food scientists and technologists earn more than that and half less.
What salary should food scientists and technologists ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of food scientists and technologists nationwide earn between $68,810 (25th percentile) and $116,650 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays food scientists and technologists the most?
Massachusetts, with a statewide average of $116,780 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is food scientists and technologists pay the lowest?
Lincoln, NE, at $61,830 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
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 19-1012.
- 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.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.