Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $135,880 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Philadelphia earn between $76,270 and $119,150.
- $60K10th
- $76K25th
- $96KMedian
- $119K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,920 | $8,243 | $47.56 |
| Median | $96,210 | $8,018 | $46.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,270 | $6,356 | $36.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $119,150 | $9,929 | $57.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Food scientists and technologists in Philadelphia earn 14% more than the Pennsylvania average ($86,640) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($95,360). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $88,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $98,920 | $96,210 | $60,420 | $135,880 | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,640 | $83,380 | $54,460 | $120,730 | 400 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $98,920, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $75,383 a year, or $6,282 a month and $2,899 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $75,383 | $6,282 |
| Working in NJ | $74,309 | $6,192 |
| Working in MD | $73,933 | $6,161 |
| Working in DE | $73,122 | $6,094 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for food scientists and technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $98,920 buys what about $96,457 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 4 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$98,920
- Harrisburg$92,170
- Lancaster$88,120
- Allentown$85,520
All Food Scientists and Technologists salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Philadelphia?
$47.56 an hour on average, and $46.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $75,383 a year ($6,282 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,920. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) 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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