Food Science Technicians pay in California
In California, the median pay for food science technicians is $26.06 an hour ($54,200 a year). About 3,990 people work in this job there.
That is 4% higher than the U.S. median ($52,130). California ranks 17th of 38 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for food science technicians in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $19.61 | $40,790 |
| 25% of workers | $22.64 | $47,080 |
| Half of workers (median) | $26.06 | $54,200 |
| 75% of workers | $30.82 | $64,100 |
| 90% of workers | $36.70 | $76,330 |
Food Science Technicians pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $64,620 | 200 |
| Napa | $61,430 | 140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $60,980 | 310 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $59,580 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $58,640 | 110 |
| Vallejo | $57,630 | 70 |
| Modesto | $56,220 | 180 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $54,410 | 970 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $53,530 | 80 |
| Salinas | $52,870 | 50 |
| Chico | $51,390 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $50,900 | 390 |
| Merced | $50,750 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $50,390 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $49,790 | 70 |
| Visalia | $49,270 | 220 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $48,480 | 170 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $48,100 | 90 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $46,710 | 60 |
| Fresno | $46,350 | 250 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for food science technicians
- Typical education to start: Associate's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +4.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 3,000 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,350 |
| Biological Technicians | $71,440 |
| Chemical Technicians | $59,510 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $58,120 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $61,220 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $60,250 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | $102,100 |
| Agricultural Technicians | $60,320 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.