How much does a Food Science Technician make?
A Food Science Technician earns a median annual salary of $52,130 in the United States, which works out to roughly $25.06 per hour for full-time work. Most Food Science Technicians earn between $39,820 at the entry level and $78,820 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $46,020 and $63,270 a year.
That is $9,260 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Food Science Technician salary range by percentile
Half of all Food Science Technicians earn between $46,020 and $63,270 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,820 | $19.14 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $46,020 | $22.13 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $52,130 | $25.06 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $63,270 | $30.42 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,820 | $37.89 |
Highest-paying states for Food Science Technician
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Virginia leads the country for Food Science Technician pay at $65,360 a year, followed by Kentucky ($64,770) and Washington ($62,070). At the other end, South Carolina posts the lowest median at $39,480 — a gap of $25,880 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $65,360 | $31.42 | +25% |
| 2 | Kentucky | $64,770 | $31.14 | +24% |
| 3 | Washington | $62,070 | $29.84 | +19% |
| 4 | Vermont | $60,980 | $29.32 | +17% |
| 5 | Illinois | $60,820 | $29.24 | +17% |
Food Science Technician salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 38 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 15,000 people work as Food Science Technicians in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $56,660 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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