Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $117,360 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Portland earn between $66,360 and $97,380.
- $55K10th
- $66K25th
- $80KMedian
- $97K75th
- $117K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,210 | $6,934 | $40.00 |
| Median | $80,050 | $6,671 | $38.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,360 | $5,530 | $31.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,380 | $8,115 | $46.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Food scientists and technologists in Portland earn about the same as the Oregon average ($84,820) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($95,360). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $88,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $83,210 | $80,050 | $54,990 | $117,360 | 150 |
| Oregon | $84,820 | $81,660 | $58,390 | $118,250 | 270 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $83,210, a single filer in Portland takes home about $61,389 a year, or $5,116 a month and $2,361 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $67,368 | $5,614 |
| Working in OR | $61,389 | $5,116 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for food scientists and technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $83,210 buys what about $78,931 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 2nd of 2 Oregon metro areas for this job; Salem pays the most ($88,720).
- Salem$88,720
- Portland$83,210
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 Portland: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Portland?
$40.01 an hour on average, and $38.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Portland?
About $61,389 a year ($5,116 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,210. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.48, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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