Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $159,570 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in San Francisco earn between $85,450 and $128,990.
- $83K10th
- $85K25th
- $99KMedian
- $129K75th
- $160K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $110,580 | $9,215 | $53.16 |
| Median | $98,930 | $8,244 | $47.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,450 | $7,121 | $41.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,990 | $10,749 | $62.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Food scientists and technologists in San Francisco earn 13% more than the California average ($97,980) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($95,360). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $88,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $110,580 | $98,930 | $82,520 | $159,570 | 380 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $110,580, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $80,431 a year, or $6,703 a month and $3,094 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 San Francisco a good place for food scientists and technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $110,580 buys what about $95,647 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in San Francisco?
$53.17 an hour on average, and $47.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $80,431 a year ($6,703 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $110,580. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- 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 1.89, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.