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BLSSalary

Food Scientists and Technologists Salary (2025)

Based on 13,060 employed workers · BLS OEWS May 2025

Official BLS Data
Annual Mean
$95,360
$45.85/hr
Annual Median
$88,720
$42.65/hr
Bottom 10%
$52,920
$25.44/hr
Top 10%
$145,280
$69.85/hr

Salary Percentile Breakdown

PercentileAnnual
10th Percentile
Bottom 10%
$52,920
25th Percentile
Lower quarter
$68,810
50th PercentileMedian
Median
$88,720
75th Percentile
Upper quarter
$116,650
90th Percentile
Top 10%
$145,280

Salary Distribution

Annual Salary Range

10th

$53K

25th

$69K

Median

$89K

75th

$117K

90th

$145K

Highest Paying States for Food Scientists and Technologists

States with highest average wages · BLS May 2025

StateAnnual Mean
Massachusetts$116,780
New Jersey$112,340
South Carolina$111,910
Colorado$104,170
Minnesota$103,960
Missouri$103,780
Illinois$103,030
Florida$101,960
Washington$101,900
Maryland$100,610

Geographic Salary Variation

Food Scientists and Technologists salaries vary significantly across the United States. The highest paying state is Massachusetts at an average of $116,780 per year, while Maryland has an average of $100,610 — a difference of $16,170. These geographic differences reflect variations in cost of living, demand, and local labor market conditions.

About Food Scientists and Technologists

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 13,060 workers were employed as Food Scientists and Technologistss in the United States as of May 2025. This occupation is classified under Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. The annual mean wage of $95,360 reflects data from employer surveys conducted by BLS.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC Code: 19-1012

What do these percentiles mean? The 10th percentile ($52,920) represents entry-level or part-time Food Scientists and Technologistss, while the 90th percentile ($145,280) represents highly experienced professionals or those in high-demand locations. The median ($88,720) is the midpoint — half of all Food Scientists and Technologistss earn more and half earn less than this amount.
Data sourced from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025. Public domain. Not affiliated with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.