SOC 19-4013 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

Food Science Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$52,130

U.S. median hourly wage$25.06

U.S. employment14,600

Nationally, food science technicians earned a median of $52,130 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 14,600 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Food Science Technicians: pay and employment by state
State
Virginia	$65,360	$31.42	150	0.0
Kentucky	$64,770	$31.14	160	0.1
Washington	$62,070	$29.84	660	0.2
Vermont	$60,980	$29.32	50	0.2
Illinois	$60,820	$29.24	290	0.0
Missouri	$59,570	$28.64	150	0.1
Nevada	$59,070	$28.40	110	0.1
Colorado	$58,540	$28.14	270	0.1
Florida	$58,500	$28.13	250	0.0
Minnesota	$57,940	$27.86	380	0.1
Maryland	$57,880	$27.83	280	0.1
Ohio	$57,060	$27.43	230	0.0
Massachusetts	$56,850	$27.33	260	0.1
New Jersey	$56,730	$27.28	590	0.1
Wisconsin	$55,690	$26.77	540	0.2
New York	$55,470	$26.67	580	0.1
California	$54,200	$26.06	3,990	0.2
Georgia	$53,150	$25.55	260	0.1
Michigan	$52,130	$25.06	250	0.1
Mississippi	$51,460	$24.74	50	0.0
Iowa	$50,740	$24.40	420	0.3
Oregon	$50,590	$24.32	820	0.4
Connecticut	$49,700	$23.89	Not published	Not published
Idaho	$48,980	$23.55	560	0.7
South Dakota	$48,760	$23.44	100	0.2
North Carolina	$48,640	$23.39	130	0.0
Nebraska	$48,530	$23.33	170	0.2
Pennsylvania	$48,060	$23.11	590	0.1
Texas	$47,760	$22.96	900	0.1
Oklahoma	$47,240	$22.71	50	0.0
Arkansas	$46,810	$22.50	140	0.1
New Mexico	$46,500	$22.36	120	0.1
Utah	$45,110	$21.69	80	0.0
Indiana	$44,630	$21.46	530	0.2
Louisiana	$44,310	$21.30	30	0.0
Alabama	$40,940	$19.68	30	0.0
Kansas	$39,930	$19.20	60	0.0
South Carolina	$39,480	$18.98	40	0.0
Puerto Rico	$36,050	$17.33	50	0.1

Pay by metro area

All 72 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Food Science Technicians: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Columbus, OH	$86,300	$41.49	40	0.0
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$84,320	$40.54	60	0.1
Jacksonville, FL	$83,030	$39.92	50	0.1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$79,850	$38.39	420	0.2
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$73,030	$35.11	60	0.1
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$72,950	$35.07	40	0.0
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$66,630	$32.04	250	0.1
St. Louis, MO-IL	$66,230	$31.84	100	0.1
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$64,620	$31.07	200	0.2
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$64,480	$31.00	80	0.1
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$63,160	$30.36	130	0.0
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$61,870	$29.74	80	0.1
Napa, CA	$61,430	$29.54	140	1.8
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$61,410	$29.53	200	0.1
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$60,980	$29.32	310	0.1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$60,320	$29.00	80	0.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$60,020	$28.86	580	0.1
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$59,650	$28.68	40	0.0
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$59,580	$28.65	70	0.1
Reno, NV	$59,440	$28.58	40	0.1
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$58,850	$28.29	60	0.1
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$58,640	$28.19	110	0.6
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$58,290	$28.02	160	0.1
Vallejo, CA	$57,630	$27.71	70	0.5
Modesto, CA	$56,220	$27.03	180	0.9
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$55,090	$26.49	50	0.2
Rochester, NY	$54,970	$26.43	40	0.1
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$54,570	$26.24	50	0.2
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$54,410	$26.16	970	0.2
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$53,960	$25.94	60	0.1
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$53,530	$25.74	80	0.6
Rochester, MN	$53,210	$25.58	30	0.3
Lancaster, PA	$53,130	$25.54	70	0.3
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$52,970	$25.46	40	0.1
Salinas, CA	$52,870	$25.42	50	0.3
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$52,690	$25.33	160	0.1
Omaha, NE-IA	$52,160	$25.08	Not published	Not published
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$51,570	$24.79	280	0.2
Chico, CA	$51,390	$24.71	40	0.5
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$50,900	$24.47	390	0.2
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$50,890	$24.46	50	0.0
Merced, CA	$50,750	$24.40	210	2.6
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$50,710	$24.38	50	0.6
Vineland, NJ	$50,400	$24.23	50	0.9
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$50,390	$24.23	140	0.5
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$50,310	$24.19	40	0.1
Boise City, ID	$49,930	$24.00	180	0.4
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$49,790	$23.94	70	0.2
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$49,680	$23.89	80	0.5
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$49,610	$23.85	40	0.0
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$49,460	$23.78	350	0.1
Twin Falls, ID	$49,460	$23.78	200	3.9
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$49,280	$23.69	130	0.0
Visalia, CA	$49,270	$23.69	220	1.3
Pittsburgh, PA	$48,970	$23.55	30	0.0
Appleton, WI	$48,960	$23.54	40	0.3
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$48,820	$23.47	140	0.3
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$48,550	$23.34	90	0.7
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$48,480	$23.31	170	0.1
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$48,100	$23.13	90	0.3
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$48,060	$23.11	250	0.1
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$48,040	$23.10	40	0.2
Madison, WI	$47,740	$22.95	90	0.2
Yakima, WA	$47,590	$22.88	60	0.6
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$46,710	$22.46	60	1.2
Fresno, CA	$46,350	$22.28	250	0.5
Salem, OR	$45,200	$21.73	130	0.7
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$44,900	$21.59	170	0.2
York-Hanover, PA	$44,720	$21.50	40	0.2
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$44,550	$21.42	300	0.3
Fort Smith, AR-OK	$43,710	$21.01	30	0.4
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$36,060	$17.34	40	0.1

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.