Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Riverside
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $126,330 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Riverside earn between $69,790 and $104,670.
- $59K10th
- $70K25th
- $85KMedian
- $105K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,050 | $7,671 | $44.25 |
| Median | $85,360 | $7,113 | $41.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,790 | $5,816 | $33.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,670 | $8,722 | $50.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in Riverside vs. California and the U.S.
Food scientists and technologists in Riverside earn 6% less than the California average ($97,980) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($95,360). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $88,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | $92,050 | $85,360 | $59,400 | $126,330 | 170 |
| 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 Riverside
On the average salary of $92,050, a single filer in Riverside takes home about $69,119 a year, or $5,760 a month and $2,658 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 Riverside a good place for food scientists and technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Riverside area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.4), so the average $92,050 buys what about $86,479 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Riverside ($48,400). A typical home costs $585,378, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in other California cities
Riverside ranks 12th 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
- Riverside$92,050
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 Riverside: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Riverside?
$44.26 an hour on average, and $41.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Riverside?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Riverside?
About $69,119 a year ($5,760 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,050. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Riverside than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (40140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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