Food Science Technicians Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for food science technicians is $52,130, or $25.06 per hour. About 14,600 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $65,360 in Virginia to $39,480 in South Carolina.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 38 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $65,360 | $31.42 | 150 | 0.39 |
| 2 | Kentucky | $64,770 | $31.14 | 160 | 0.87 |
| 3 | Washington | $62,070 | $29.84 | 660 | 1.98 |
| 4 | Vermont | $60,980 | $29.32 | 50 | 1.84 |
| 5 | Illinois | $60,820 | $29.24 | 290 | 0.51 |
| 6 | Missouri | $59,570 | $28.64 | 150 | 0.54 |
| 7 | Nevada | $59,070 | $28.40 | 110 | 0.72 |
| 8 | Colorado | $58,540 | $28.14 | 270 | 1.02 |
| 9 | Florida | $58,500 | $28.13 | 250 | 0.26 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $57,940 | $27.86 | 380 | 1.36 |
| 11 | Maryland | $57,880 | $27.83 | 280 | 1.07 |
| 12 | Ohio | $57,060 | $27.43 | 230 | 0.43 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $56,850 | $27.33 | 260 | 0.75 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $56,730 | $27.28 | 590 | 1.48 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $55,690 | $26.77 | 540 | 1.96 |
| 16 | New York | $55,470 | $26.67 | 580 | 0.64 |
| 17 | California | $54,200 | $26.06 | 3,990 | 2.34 |
| 18 | Georgia | $53,150 | $25.55 | 260 | 0.56 |
| 19 | Michigan | $52,130 | $25.06 | 250 | 0.59 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $51,460 | $24.74 | 50 | 0.49 |
| 21 | Iowa | $50,740 | $24.40 | 420 | 2.86 |
| 22 | Oregon | $50,590 | $24.32 | 820 | 4.45 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $49,700 | $23.89 | — | — |
| 24 | Idaho | $48,980 | $23.55 | 560 | 7.00 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $48,760 | $23.44 | 100 | 2.23 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $48,640 | $23.39 | 130 | 0.28 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $48,530 | $23.33 | 170 | 1.77 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $48,060 | $23.11 | 590 | 1.04 |
| 29 | Texas | $47,760 | $22.96 | 900 | 0.68 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $47,240 | $22.71 | 50 | 0.29 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $46,810 | $22.50 | 140 | 1.12 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $46,500 | $22.36 | 120 | 1.42 |
| 33 | Utah | $45,110 | $21.69 | 80 | 0.51 |
| 34 | Indiana | $44,630 | $21.46 | 530 | 1.78 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $44,310 | $21.30 | 30 | 0.17 |
| 36 | Alabama | $40,940 | $19.68 | 30 | 0.16 |
| 37 | Kansas | $39,930 | $19.20 | 60 | 0.41 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $39,480 | $18.98 | 40 | 0.19 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do food science technicians make?
The median annual wage for food science technicians in the United States is $52,130, or $25.06 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $39,820, and the top 10% earn $78,820.
How many food science technicians are employed in the U.S.?
About 14,600 people work as food science technicians nationwide.
Which state pays food science technicians the most?
Virginia pays the most at a median of $65,360, followed by Kentucky ($64,770) and Washington ($62,070).
Which state pays food science technicians the least?
South Carolina has the lowest median at $39,480.
Where are food science technicians jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Idaho at 7.00×.