Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $163,520 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Seattle earn between $79,450 and $121,800.
- $59K10th
- $79K25th
- $100KMedian
- $122K75th
- $164K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $104,290 | $8,691 | $50.14 |
| Median | $100,000 | $8,333 | $48.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,450 | $6,621 | $38.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,800 | $10,150 | $58.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Food scientists and technologists in Seattle earn about the same as the Washington average ($101,900) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($95,360). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $88,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $104,290 | $100,000 | $59,380 | $163,520 | 120 |
| Washington | $101,900 | $94,990 | $56,520 | $162,740 | 250 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $104,290, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $82,198 a year, or $6,850 a month and $3,161 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for food scientists and technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $104,290 buys what about $93,843 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Portland, OR$83,210
- Salem, OR$88,720
- Boise, ID$71,250
- Sacramento, CA$96,510
- Napa, CA$89,210
- Santa Rosa, CA$94,240
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 Seattle: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Seattle?
$50.14 an hour on average, and $48.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Seattle?
About $82,198 a year ($6,850 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $104,290. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.2%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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