California Median
$54,200
per year
Hourly Rate
$26.06
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+4% vs US median
US median $52,130
State Rank
#17 of 38
3,990 employed here
How much does a Food Science Technician make in California?
Food Science Technicians in California take home a median of $54,200 annually — roughly $26.06 an hour — which runs 4% above the national median of $52,130.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $40,790 while the top 10% make $76,330 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $47,080 and $64,100 a year.
Food Science Technician salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,790 | $19.61 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $47,080 | $22.63 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $54,200 | $26.06 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $64,100 | $30.82 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,330 | $36.70 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 17th out of 38 states and territories for Food Science Technician pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Food Science Technician salary in other states
Virginia $65,360Kentucky $64,770Washington $62,070Vermont $60,980Illinois $60,820Missouri $59,570Nevada $59,070Colorado $58,540Florida $58,500Minnesota $57,940Maryland $57,880Ohio $57,060Massachusetts $56,850New Jersey $56,730Wisconsin $55,690New York $55,470Georgia $53,150Michigan $52,130Mississippi $51,460Iowa $50,740Oregon $50,590Connecticut $49,700Idaho $48,980South Dakota $48,760North Carolina $48,640Nebraska $48,530Pennsylvania $48,060Texas $47,760Oklahoma $47,240Arkansas $46,810New Mexico $46,500Utah $45,110Indiana $44,630Louisiana $44,310Alabama $40,940Kansas $39,930South Carolina $39,480
Working as a Food Science Technician in California
Nationally, about 15,000 people work as Food Science Technicians in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($54,200) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Food Science Technician make in California?
The median Food Science Technician salary in California is $54,200 per year, or about $26.06 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $40,790 at the entry level to $76,330 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Food Science Technicians about 4% more than the national median of $52,130. California ranks 17th out of 38 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Food Science Technicians?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $54,200 a year. About 3,990 Food Science Technicians are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Food Science Technician salary report
Related salaries
$62,280
median pay · 74,000 employed
$60,390
median pay · 58,000 employed
$61,560
median pay · 31,000 employed
$72,060
median pay · 19,000 employed
$69,460
median pay · 8,000 employed
$61,990
median pay · 31,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.