Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,560 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Merced earn between $78,760 and $119,670.
- $62K10th
- $79K25th
- $96KMedian
- $120K75th
- $150K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49.04 |
| Median | $96,430 | $8,036 | $46.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,760 | $6,563 | $37.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $119,670 | $9,972 | $57.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Food scientists and technologists in Merced earn 4% more than the California average ($97,980) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($95,360). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $88,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $102,000 | $96,430 | $61,760 | $149,560 | 40 |
| California | $97,980 | $93,950 | $60,060 | $140,810 | 2,210 |
| United States | $95,360 | $88,720 | $52,920 | $145,280 | 13,060 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $102,000, a single filer in Merced takes home about $75,193 a year, or $6,266 a month and $2,892 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 scientists and technologists? 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 $102,000 buys what about $103,790 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 3rd of 17 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($117,020).
- San Jose$117,020
- San Francisco$110,580
- Merced$102,000
- Los Angeles$96,580
- Sacramento$96,510
- San Diego$94,460
- Santa Rosa$94,240
- Salinas$93,080
- Stockton$92,850
- Visalia$92,300
All Food Scientists and Technologists salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for food scientists and technologists
Boston, MA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($120,200).
- Boston, MA$120,200
- San Jose, CA$117,020
- Washington, DC$113,320
- San Francisco, CA$110,580
- New York, NY$110,190
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Food Scientists and Technologists salary in Merced: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Merced?
$49.04 an hour on average, and $46.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Merced?
About $75,193 a year ($6,266 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,000. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($95,360).
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; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 5.57, this job is 5.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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