Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $183,260 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Boston earn between $92,080 and $157,100.
- $72K10th
- $92K25th
- $104KMedian
- $157K75th
- $183K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $120,200 | $10,017 | $57.79 |
| Median | $103,580 | $8,632 | $49.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $92,080 | $7,673 | $44.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $157,100 | $13,092 | $75.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Food scientists and technologists in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($116,780) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($95,360). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $88,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $120,200 | $103,580 | $72,130 | $183,260 | 370 |
| Massachusetts | $116,780 | $103,580 | $68,990 | $183,260 | 420 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $120,200, a single filer in Boston takes home about $87,701 a year, or $7,308 a month and $3,373 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $93,391 | $7,783 |
| Working in MA | $87,701 | $7,308 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for food scientists and technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $120,200 buys what about $111,023 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Providence, RI$87,740
- Albany, NY$86,590
- New York, NY$110,190
- Allentown, PA$85,520
- Philadelphia, PA$98,920
- Lancaster, PA$88,120
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 Boston: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Boston?
$57.79 an hour on average, and $49.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $92,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Boston?
About $87,701 a year ($7,308 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $120,200. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% more 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.64, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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