Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,790 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Columbus earn between $48,570 and $112,920.
- $49K10th
- $49K25th
- $80KMedian
- $113K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,210 | $6,851 | $39.52 |
| Median | $79,560 | $6,630 | $38.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,570 | $4,048 | $23.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,920 | $9,410 | $54.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary after taxes in Columbus
On the average salary of $82,210, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $62,784 a year, or $5,232 a month and $2,415 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Columbus's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Is Columbus a good place for food scientists and technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $82,210 buys what about $86,112 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($51,340). A typical home costs $333,537, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in other Ohio cities
Columbus ranks 2nd of 2 Ohio metro areas for this job; Cincinnati pays the most ($96,060).
- Cincinnati$96,060
- Columbus$82,210
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 Columbus: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Columbus?
$39.52 an hour on average, and $38.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Columbus?
About $62,784 a year ($5,232 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,210. Includes Columbus's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($99,884).
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 Columbus, OH (18140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.5%.
- 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). Includes Columbus's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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