Food Scientists and Technologists Salary in Los Angeles, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Median annual salary $84,820 -0.6% vs national
Median hourly $40.78
10th percentile $57,720
90th percentile $131,160
Employed locally 620
National median $85,310

Compare Food Scientists and Technologists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Los Angeles, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Food Scientists and Technologists
in
Los Angeles, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $57,720
    25th
    $67,260
    50th (median)
    $84,820
    75th
    $105,970
    90th
    $131,160

    Los Angeles economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,525 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Scientists and Technologists salary vs area income 91% Median Food Scientists and Technologists salary is 9% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Scientists and Technologists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $105,670
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $103,810
    New Jersey $102,630
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $102,630
    Ann Arbor, MI $102,570
    District of Columbia $102,500

    Nearby metros — Food Scientists and Technologists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $105,670
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $99,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $99,140
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $97,950
    Lancaster, PA $95,110
    Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $95,090

    Related occupations in Los Angeles, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $128,470
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $98,720
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $100,330
    School Psychologists $108,130
    Chemists $82,370
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $101,540

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Scientists and Technologists make per hour in Los Angeles?

    The median hourly wage for Food Scientists and Technologists in Los Angeles, CA is $40.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $68.02 or more per hour.

    Is Los Angeles above or below average for Food Scientists and Technologists salaries?

    The median Food Scientists and Technologists salary in Los Angeles, CA is 0.6% below the national median of $85,310. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Scientists and Technologists in Los Angeles?

    Entry-level Food Scientists and Technologists (10th percentile) earn around $57,720 per year in Los Angeles, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $67,260.