Food Science Technicians Salary
Food Science Technicians in Kentucky make a median of $64,770 a year, or about $31.14 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $71,783 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 26.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $65K get you in Kentucky?
About food science technicians
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Kentucky sits well above the national pay line for food science technicians, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $52K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level food science technicians (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Food Science Technicians salary by metro in Kentucky
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $84K | +30% | 60 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 25.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food science technicians in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food science technicians typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,530/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $65K here vs. $52K nationally.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for food science technicians?
Kentucky pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food science technicians make in Kentucky?
The median is $64,770 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,170, and experienced food science technicians can clear $84,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,280/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 25.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a food science technicians salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $71,783 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.