Food Science Technicians Salary
Food Science Technicians in Arkansas make a median of $46,810 a year, or about $22.5 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $69K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $53,412 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 32% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Arkansas?
About food science technicians
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Food science technicians pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $52K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level food science technicians (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $69K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Food Science Technicians salary by metro in Arkansas
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $55K | +18% | 50 |
| Fort Smith | $44K | -7% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track food science technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food science technicians in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food science technicians typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,556/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food science technician a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $52K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for food science technicians?
Arkansas pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food science technicians make in Arkansas?
The median is $46,810 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,600, and experienced food science technicians can clear $69,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,166/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 32.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food science technicians salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food science technicians salary is worth about $53,412 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food science technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.