Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,610 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Indianapolis earn between $57,570 and $87,870.
- $43K10th
- $58K25th
- $70KMedian
- $88K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,260 | $6,105 | $35.22 |
| Median | $69,970 | $5,831 | $33.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,570 | $4,798 | $27.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $87,870 | $7,322 | $42.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Food scientists and technologists in Indianapolis earn about the same as the Indiana average ($72,490) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($95,360). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $88,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $73,260 | $69,970 | $42,860 | $100,610 | 70 |
| Indiana | $72,490 | $69,350 | $44,180 | $108,410 | 300 |
| United States | $95,360 | $88,720 | $52,920 | $145,280 | 13,060 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $73,260, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $56,741 a year, or $4,728 a month and $2,182 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for food scientists and technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $73,260 buys what about $76,555 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Cincinnati, OH$96,060
- Louisville, KY$84,260
- Chicago, IL$108,070
- Columbus, OH$82,210
- Ann Arbor, MI$100,270
- Lansing, MI$84,070
Highest-paying cities for food scientists and technologists
Boston, MA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($120,200).
- Boston, MA$120,200
- San Jose, CA$117,020
- Washington, DC$113,320
- San Francisco, CA$110,580
- New York, NY$110,190
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Food Scientists and Technologists salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Indianapolis?
$35.22 an hour on average, and $33.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $56,741 a year ($4,728 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,260. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($95,360).
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 19-1012; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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