The median annual wage for Food Scientists and Technologists in California is $85,480 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $91,820.
Pay spans roughly $57,400 at the 10th percentile to $133,930 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $41.10 per hour. An estimated 2,350 people work as food scientists and technologists in California.
| Median (annual) | $85,480 |
| Mean (annual) | $91,820 |
| Median (hourly) | $41.10 |
| 10th percentile | $57,400 |
| 90th percentile | $133,930 |
| Employment | 2,350 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.