Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $138,460 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Raleigh earn between $68,590 and $85,780.
- $53K10th
- $69K25th
- $69KMedian
- $86K75th
- $138K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,180 | $7,015 | $40.47 |
| Median | $68,590 | $5,716 | $32.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,590 | $5,716 | $32.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $85,780 | $7,148 | $41.24 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Food scientists and technologists in Raleigh earn 3% less than the North Carolina average ($86,800) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($95,360). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $88,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $84,180 | $68,590 | $52,840 | $138,460 | 110 |
| North Carolina | $86,800 | $79,840 | $49,850 | $138,460 | 230 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $84,180, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $65,201 a year, or $5,433 a month and $2,508 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for food scientists and technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $84,180 buys what about $85,761 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 2nd of 2 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($92,000).
- Charlotte$92,000
- Raleigh$84,180
All Food Scientists and Technologists salaries in North Carolina
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 Raleigh: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Raleigh?
$40.47 an hour on average, and $32.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $65,201 a year ($5,433 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,180.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 16.9%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.79, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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