SOC 19-1012 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

Food Scientists and Technologists

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

U.S. median annual wage$88,720

U.S. median hourly wage$42.65

U.S. employment13,060

Nationally, food scientists and technologists earned a median of $88,720 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 13,060 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”.

Filter state

Food Scientists and Technologists: pay and employment by state
State
South Carolina	$108,660	$52.24	90	0.0
Missouri	$105,930	$50.93	390	0.1
New Jersey	$104,340	$50.16	630	0.1
Massachusetts	$103,580	$49.80	420	0.1
Florida	$101,160	$48.64	170	0.0
Colorado	$99,580	$47.87	320	0.1
Minnesota	$99,280	$47.73	670	0.2
Kentucky	$98,710	$47.46	170	0.1
Alabama	$97,480	$46.87	60	0.0
Washington	$94,990	$45.67	250	0.1
Illinois	$94,340	$45.35	780	0.1
New York	$94,070	$45.23	660	0.1
California	$93,950	$45.17	2,210	0.1
Virginia	$93,590	$44.99	70	0.0
Maryland	$93,330	$44.87	270	0.1
Texas	$90,610	$43.56	840	0.1
Arizona	$90,450	$43.49	Not published	Not published
Maine	$89,480	$43.02	30	0.0
Rhode Island	$87,970	$42.29	40	0.1
Georgia	$86,050	$41.37	560	0.1
Kansas	$85,130	$40.93	380	0.3
Oklahoma	$84,750	$40.74	50	0.0
Arkansas	$84,330	$40.54	310	0.2
Pennsylvania	$83,380	$40.09	400	0.1
Wisconsin	$83,020	$39.91	410	0.1
Iowa	$82,010	$39.43	380	0.2
Tennessee	$81,760	$39.31	70	0.0
Oregon	$81,660	$39.26	270	0.1
Nevada	$80,580	$38.74	50	0.0
North Carolina	$79,840	$38.38	230	0.0
New Mexico	$79,130	$38.04	30	0.0
Idaho	$77,440	$37.23	140	0.2
Michigan	$76,940	$36.99	430	0.1
Ohio	$76,780	$36.92	270	0.0
Utah	$73,280	$35.23	120	0.1
Nebraska	$72,230	$34.72	230	0.2
South Dakota	$71,330	$34.29	90	0.2
Indiana	$69,350	$33.34	300	0.1
Montana	$52,230	$25.11	30	0.1

Pay by metro area

All 64 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.

Filter metro area

Food Scientists and Technologists: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$113,350	$54.50	130	0.0
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$110,810	$53.27	50	0.0
St. Louis, MO-IL	$108,200	$52.02	270	0.2
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$107,970	$51.91	320	0.1
Ann Arbor, MI	$105,420	$50.68	40	0.2
Kansas City, MO-KS	$105,350	$50.65	180	0.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$104,200	$50.10	730	0.1
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$103,580	$49.80	370	0.1
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$103,300	$49.66	190	0.7
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$101,760	$48.92	440	0.2
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$100,390	$48.27	610	0.1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$100,000	$48.08	120	0.1
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$99,900	$48.03	220	0.1
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$99,530	$47.85	110	0.2
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$98,930	$47.56	380	0.2
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$98,220	$47.22	60	0.1
Merced, CA	$96,430	$46.36	40	0.5
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$96,210	$46.26	230	0.1
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$95,030	$45.69	60	0.0
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$94,770	$45.56	50	0.1
Fresno, CA	$93,750	$45.07	110	0.2
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$93,670	$45.03	410	0.1
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$93,330	$44.87	150	0.1
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$92,690	$44.56	40	0.1
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$91,060	$43.78	550	0.1
Omaha, NE-IA	$90,770	$43.64	60	0.1
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$90,210	$43.37	130	0.1
Salinas, CA	$90,080	$43.31	30	0.2
Rochester, NY	$90,040	$43.29	60	0.1
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$90,040	$43.29	60	0.2
Visalia, CA	$89,050	$42.81	60	0.4
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$88,210	$42.41	100	0.0
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$88,010	$42.31	110	0.1
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$87,270	$41.96	40	0.0
Lancaster, PA	$86,320	$41.50	40	0.1
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$86,230	$41.46	90	0.1
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$86,150	$41.42	70	0.1
Salem, OR	$85,960	$41.33	30	0.2
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$85,930	$41.31	80	0.0
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$85,610	$41.16	90	0.4
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$85,360	$41.04	170	0.1
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$83,140	$39.97	40	0.1
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$82,640	$39.73	50	0.1
Modesto, CA	$80,960	$38.92	80	0.4
Napa, CA	$80,320	$38.61	80	1.0
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$80,050	$38.49	150	0.1
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$79,900	$38.41	50	0.1
Wichita, KS	$79,630	$38.28	60	0.2
Columbus, OH	$79,560	$38.25	90	0.1
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$78,610	$37.80	70	0.1
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$78,260	$37.63	40	0.5
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$76,580	$36.82	160	0.4
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$75,980	$36.53	50	0.1
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$74,150	$35.65	30	0.0
Boise City, ID	$73,420	$35.30	Not published	Not published
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$73,280	$35.23	50	0.1
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$69,970	$33.64	70	0.1
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$68,590	$32.98	110	0.2
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$67,790	$32.59	130	0.1
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$66,120	$31.79	30	0.6
Madison, WI	$66,080	$31.77	40	0.1
Lawrence, KS	$64,210	$30.87	40	0.8
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$63,030	$30.30	40	0.2
Lincoln, NE	$56,250	$27.04	70	0.4

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.