Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $160,700 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Washington earn between $81,360 and $134,160.
- $64K10th
- $81K25th
- $113KMedian
- $134K75th
- $161K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $113,320 | $9,443 | $54.48 |
| Median | $113,350 | $9,446 | $54.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,360 | $6,780 | $39.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $134,160 | $11,180 | $64.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $113,320, a single filer in Washington takes home about $81,887 a year, or $6,824 a month and $3,149 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $84,250 | $7,021 |
| Working in MD | $83,355 | $6,946 |
| Working in VA | $82,849 | $6,904 |
| Working in DC | $81,887 | $6,824 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for food scientists and technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $113,320 buys what about $104,074 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$101,320
- Harrisburg, PA$92,170
- Lancaster, PA$88,120
- Philadelphia, PA$98,920
- Allentown, PA$85,520
- Raleigh, NC$84,180
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 Washington: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Washington?
$54.48 an hour on average, and $54.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Washington?
About $81,887 a year ($6,824 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $113,320.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.7%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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