Food Science Technicians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $104,390 or more. The middle half of food science technicians in Chicago earn between $51,220 and $82,910.
- $48K10th
- $51K25th
- $67KMedian
- $83K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,440 | $5,953 | $34.35 |
| Median | $66,630 | $5,552 | $32.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,220 | $4,268 | $24.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,910 | $6,909 | $39.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Science Technicians salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $71,440, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $55,693 a year, or $4,641 a month and $2,142 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $56,975 | $4,748 |
| Working in IL | $55,693 | $4,641 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for food science technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $71,440 buys what about $68,961 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Science Technicians salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$62,480
- Madison, WI$50,320
- Grand Rapids, MI$59,310
- Indianapolis, IN$47,130
- Appleton, WI$51,860
- Lansing, MI$48,360
Highest-paying cities for food science technicians
Columbus, OH pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($78,750).
- Columbus, OH$78,750
- Jacksonville, FL$77,640
- Louisville, KY$76,400
- Seattle, WA$72,940
- Chicago, IL$71,440
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Food Science Technicians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do food science technicians make an hour in Chicago?
$34.35 an hour on average, and $32.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food science technicians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food science technicians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $55,693 a year ($4,641 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,440.
Do food science technicians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($57,192).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4013; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.8%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.58, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.58).
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