Food Scientists and Technologists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for food scientists and technologists is $88,720, or $42.65 per hour. About 13,060 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $108,660 in South Carolina to $52,230 in Montana.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 39 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | $108,660 | $52.24 | 90 | 0.46 |
| 2 | Missouri | $105,930 | $50.93 | 390 | 1.59 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $104,340 | $50.16 | 630 | 1.76 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $103,580 | $49.80 | 420 | 1.38 |
| 5 | Florida | $101,160 | $48.64 | 170 | 0.20 |
| 6 | Colorado | $99,580 | $47.87 | 320 | 1.31 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $99,280 | $47.73 | 670 | 2.70 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $98,710 | $47.46 | 170 | 1.04 |
| 9 | Alabama | $97,480 | $46.87 | 60 | 0.31 |
| 10 | Washington | $94,990 | $45.67 | 250 | 0.85 |
| 11 | Illinois | $94,340 | $45.35 | 780 | 1.53 |
| 12 | New York | $94,070 | $45.23 | 660 | 0.81 |
| 13 | California | $93,950 | $45.17 | 2,210 | 1.44 |
| 14 | Virginia | $93,590 | $44.99 | 70 | 0.21 |
| 15 | Maryland | $93,330 | $44.87 | 270 | 1.18 |
| 16 | Texas | $90,610 | $43.56 | 840 | 0.71 |
| 17 | Arizona | $90,450 | $43.49 | — | — |
| 18 | Maine | $89,480 | $43.02 | 30 | 0.58 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $87,970 | $42.29 | 40 | 1.03 |
| 20 | Georgia | $86,050 | $41.37 | 560 | 1.38 |
| 21 | Kansas | $85,130 | $40.93 | 380 | 3.19 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $84,750 | $40.74 | 50 | 0.32 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $84,330 | $40.54 | 310 | 2.82 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $83,380 | $40.09 | 400 | 0.79 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $83,020 | $39.91 | 410 | 1.67 |
| 26 | Iowa | $82,010 | $39.43 | 380 | 2.87 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $81,760 | $39.31 | 70 | 0.25 |
| 28 | Oregon | $81,660 | $39.26 | 270 | 1.64 |
| 29 | Nevada | $80,580 | $38.74 | 50 | 0.37 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $79,840 | $38.38 | 230 | 0.56 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $79,130 | $38.04 | 30 | 0.44 |
| 32 | Idaho | $77,440 | $37.23 | 140 | 1.98 |
| 33 | Michigan | $76,940 | $36.99 | 430 | 1.15 |
| 34 | Ohio | $76,780 | $36.92 | 270 | 0.59 |
| 35 | Utah | $73,280 | $35.23 | 120 | 0.81 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $72,230 | $34.72 | 230 | 2.64 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $71,330 | $34.29 | 90 | 2.30 |
| 38 | Indiana | $69,350 | $33.34 | 300 | 1.12 |
| 39 | Montana | $52,230 | $25.11 | 30 | 0.72 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make?
The median annual wage for food scientists and technologists in the United States is $88,720, or $42.65 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $52,920, and the top 10% earn $145,280.
How many food scientists and technologists are employed in the U.S.?
About 13,060 people work as food scientists and technologists nationwide.
Which state pays food scientists and technologists the most?
South Carolina pays the most at a median of $108,660, followed by Missouri ($105,930) and New Jersey ($104,340).
Which state pays food scientists and technologists the least?
Montana has the lowest median at $52,230.
Where are food scientists and technologists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Kansas at 3.19×.