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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

19-1012 Food Scientists and Technologists

Use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.


National estimates for Food Scientists and Technologists
Industry profile for Food Scientists and Technologists
Geographic profile for Food Scientists and Technologists

National estimates for Food Scientists and Technologists:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Food Scientists and Technologists:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
13,510 4.8 % $ 40.46 $ 84,150 2.0 %

Percentile wage estimates for Food Scientists and Technologists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 21.64 $ 28.91 $ 37.66 $ 48.65 $ 62.76
Annual Wage (2) $ 45,010 $ 60,130 $ 78,340 $ 101,180 $ 130,540


Industry profile for Food Scientists and Technologists:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Food Scientists and Technologists are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Food Scientists and Technologists, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Food Scientists and Technologists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Food Manufacturing 2,130 0.91 $ 42.37 $ 88,130
Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,010 0.08 $ 47.62 $ 99,050
Scientific Research and Development Services 970 0.12 $ 44.43 $ 92,410
Dairy Product Manufacturing 950 0.62 $ 37.14 $ 77,240
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 860 0.06 $ 33.94 $ 70,600

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Food Scientists and Technologists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Food Manufacturing 2,130 0.91 $ 42.37 $ 88,130
Grain and Oilseed Milling 480 0.76 $ 41.26 $ 85,830
Dairy Product Manufacturing 950 0.62 $ 37.14 $ 77,240
Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing 690 0.40 $ 36.89 $ 76,730
Animal Food Manufacturing 260 0.38 $ 40.62 $ 84,480

Top paying industries for Food Scientists and Technologists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) 450 0.05 $ 53.17 $ 110,590
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 520 0.03 $ 52.11 $ 108,400
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 80 (7) $ 51.10 $ 106,290
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) (8) (8) $ 49.21 $ 102,350
Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,010 0.08 $ 47.62 $ 99,050


Geographic profile for Food Scientists and Technologists:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Food Scientists and Technologists are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Food Scientists and Technologists, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of food scientists and technologists by state, May 2021


States with the highest employment level in Food Scientists and Technologists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 1,760 0.11 1.11 $ 40.10 $ 83,420
Illinois 1,100 0.20 2.05 $ 45.43 $ 94,480
Minnesota 930 0.34 3.55 $ 46.24 $ 96,170
Texas 830 0.07 0.71 $ 39.68 $ 82,530
New York 660 0.08 0.80 $ 43.90 $ 91,310


Map of location quotient of food scientists and technologists by state, May 2021


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Food Scientists and Technologists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas 490 0.36 3.78 $ 48.68 $ 101,250
Minnesota 930 0.34 3.55 $ 46.24 $ 96,170
Arkansas 310 0.26 2.68 $ 38.94 $ 81,000
Oregon 370 0.20 2.11 $ 40.37 $ 83,980
Illinois 1,100 0.20 2.05 $ 45.43 $ 94,480


Map of annual mean wages of food scientists and technologists by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Food Scientists and Technologists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Colorado 320 0.12 1.26 $ 49.77 $ 103,520
Kansas 490 0.36 3.78 $ 48.68 $ 101,250
Connecticut (8) (8) (8) $ 46.83 $ 97,410
Ohio 570 0.11 1.15 $ 46.29 $ 96,280
Minnesota 930 0.34 3.55 $ 46.24 $ 96,170



Map of employment of food scientists and technologists by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Food Scientists and Technologists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 860 0.20 2.12 $ 46.56 $ 96,850
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 840 0.10 1.01 $ 47.82 $ 99,470
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 440 0.08 0.81 $ 41.94 $ 87,240
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 350 0.10 1.01 $ 43.28 $ 90,020
Columbus, OH 250 0.24 2.54 $ 44.01 $ 91,530
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 240 0.11 1.10 $ 49.98 $ 103,970
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 230 0.22 2.33 $ 48.81 $ 101,530
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 220 0.08 0.86 $ 41.87 $ 87,090
Raleigh, NC 190 0.30 3.12 $ 23.10 $ 48,050
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 180 0.16 1.68 $ 40.28 $ 83,790


Map of location quotient of food scientists and technologists by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Food Scientists and Technologists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ 70 1.23 12.79 $ 39.37 $ 81,880
Napa, CA 80 1.12 11.63 $ 33.05 $ 68,740
Lawrence, KS 50 1.00 10.43 $ 30.58 $ 63,600
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD 80 0.90 9.37 $ 32.62 $ 67,840
Owensboro, KY 40 0.81 8.48 $ 40.40 $ 84,030
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI 100 0.76 7.87 $ 26.02 $ 54,110
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO 180 0.74 7.69 $ 36.35 $ 75,610
Merced, CA 40 0.62 6.47 $ 37.45 $ 77,900
Gainesville, GA 50 0.52 5.40 $ 28.80 $ 59,900
Modesto, CA 90 0.48 5.02 $ 38.06 $ 79,160


Map of annual mean wages of food scientists and technologists by area, May 2021


Top paying metropolitan areas for Food Scientists and Technologists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas City, MO-KS 170 0.16 1.70 $ 66.64 $ 138,600
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 240 0.11 1.10 $ 49.98 $ 103,970
Wichita, KS 90 0.30 3.16 $ 49.09 $ 102,100
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (8) (8) (8) $ 48.95 $ 101,820
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 40 0.04 0.44 $ 48.92 $ 101,750
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 230 0.22 2.33 $ 48.81 $ 101,530
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 840 0.10 1.01 $ 47.82 $ 99,470
Greeley, CO 30 0.31 3.18 $ 47.61 $ 99,040
Boise City, ID 40 0.12 1.20 $ 47.14 $ 98,050
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 860 0.20 2.12 $ 46.56 $ 96,850

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Food Scientists and Technologists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 130 0.34 3.54 $ 35.81 $ 74,480
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 100 0.66 6.87 $ 42.59 $ 88,580
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 90 0.44 4.57 $ 38.95 $ 81,010
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 60 0.26 2.66 $ 34.94 $ 72,680
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area 60 0.49 5.14 $ 48.40 $ 100,660

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Food Scientists and Technologists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 100 0.66 6.87 $ 42.59 $ 88,580
Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area 40 0.53 5.52 $ 30.13 $ 62,660
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area 60 0.49 5.14 $ 48.40 $ 100,660
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 50 0.45 4.72 $ 37.50 $ 78,010
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 90 0.44 4.57 $ 38.95 $ 81,010

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Food Scientists and Technologists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 50 0.23 2.35 $ 49.54 $ 103,030
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area 60 0.49 5.14 $ 48.40 $ 100,660
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 100 0.66 6.87 $ 42.59 $ 88,580
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 90 0.44 4.57 $ 38.95 $ 81,010
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 50 0.45 4.72 $ 37.50 $ 78,010


About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022