Food science technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,820 | $19.14 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $52,130 | $25.06 |
| Mean (average) | $56,660 | $27.24 |
| 90th percentile | $78,820 | $37.89 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Food science technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 39 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $40,940 | $38,530 | $62,060 | 30 | 0.16 |
| Arkansas | $46,810 | $42,600 | $69,120 | 140 | 1.12 |
| California | $54,200 | $40,790 | $76,330 | 3,990 | 2.34 |
| Colorado | $58,540 | $52,340 | $82,140 | 270 | 1.02 |
| Connecticut | $49,700 | $36,930 | $61,150 | ||
| Florida | $58,500 | $37,620 | $91,820 | 250 | 0.26 |
| Georgia | $53,150 | $33,040 | $80,620 | 260 | 0.56 |
| Idaho | $48,980 | $37,980 | $65,580 | 560 | 7 |
| Illinois | $60,820 | $46,860 | $104,280 | 290 | 0.51 |
| Indiana | $44,630 | $40,410 | $68,550 | 530 | 1.78 |
| Iowa | $50,740 | $40,200 | $66,370 | 420 | 2.86 |
| Kansas | $39,930 | $33,390 | $71,320 | 60 | 0.41 |
| Kentucky | $64,770 | $42,170 | $84,410 | 160 | 0.87 |
| Louisiana | $44,310 | $35,280 | $63,230 | 30 | 0.17 |
| Maryland | $57,880 | $46,320 | $77,520 | 280 | 1.07 |
| Massachusetts | $56,850 | $44,900 | $73,300 | 260 | 0.75 |
| Michigan | $52,130 | $39,290 | $68,610 | 250 | 0.59 |
| Minnesota | $57,940 | $42,010 | $74,270 | 380 | 1.36 |
| Mississippi | $51,460 | $35,930 | $78,520 | 50 | 0.49 |
| Missouri | $59,570 | $41,430 | $83,570 | 150 | 0.54 |
| Nebraska | $48,530 | $44,840 | $59,670 | 170 | 1.77 |
| Nevada | $59,070 | $47,220 | $66,590 | 110 | 0.72 |
| New Jersey | $56,730 | $38,920 | $77,450 | 590 | 1.48 |
| New Mexico | $46,500 | $35,960 | $51,480 | 120 | 1.42 |
| New York | $55,470 | $44,270 | $75,080 | 580 | 0.64 |
| North Carolina | $48,640 | $39,740 | $63,280 | 130 | 0.28 |
| Ohio | $57,060 | $41,000 | $86,300 | 230 | 0.43 |
| Oklahoma | $47,240 | $38,120 | $52,690 | 50 | 0.29 |
| Oregon | $50,590 | $41,090 | $63,260 | 820 | 4.45 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,060 | $37,590 | $62,200 | 590 | 1.04 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,050 | $21,890 | $38,020 | 50 | 0.55 |
| South Carolina | $39,480 | $36,270 | $60,040 | 40 | 0.19 |
| South Dakota | $48,760 | $33,790 | $54,440 | 100 | 2.23 |
| Texas | $47,760 | $37,040 | $76,130 | 900 | 0.68 |
| Utah | $45,110 | $41,240 | $84,930 | 80 | 0.51 |
| Vermont | $60,980 | $46,620 | $71,270 | 50 | 1.84 |
| Virginia | $65,360 | $47,250 | $78,700 | 150 | 0.39 |
| Washington | $62,070 | $45,930 | $79,850 | 660 | 1.98 |
| Wisconsin | $55,690 | $40,600 | $73,030 | 540 | 1.96 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for food science technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for food science technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Agricultural and Food Products Processing CIP 01.0401
- Food Science CIP 01.1001
- Food Technology and Processing CIP 01.1002
- Brewing Science CIP 01.1003
- Zymology/Fermentation Science CIP 01.1005
- Food Science and Technology, Other CIP 01.1099
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General CIP 26.0101
- Biochemistry CIP 26.0202
- Microbiology, General CIP 26.0502
- Chemistry, General CIP 40.0501
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.
- Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dimensions meet specifications.
- Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agencies.
- Monitor and control temperature of products.
- Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables.
- Record or compile test results or prepare graphs, charts, or reports.
- Perform regular maintenance of laboratory equipment by inspecting, calibrating, cleaning, or sterilizing.
- Examine chemical or biological samples to identify cell structures or to locate bacteria or extraneous material, using a microscope.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft SQL Server (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
- Apache JMeter
- Apache Struts
- Database software
- Graphical user interface GUI design software
- Graphics software
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis, Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.
Common job titles: Central Laboratory Technician (CLT), Food Science Tech (Food Science Technician), Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant), Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), QA Lab Tech (Quality Assurance Lab Technician), QC Tech (Quality Assurance Technician), QC Tech (Quality Control Technician), Quality Analyst, Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst), Quality Tech (Quality Technician).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do food science technicians make?
The national median annual wage for food science technicians was $52,130 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,820 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $78,820. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do food science technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is food science technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of food science technicians to change +4.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay food science technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Virginia ($65,360), Kentucky ($64,770), Washington ($62,070). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.