Food Science Technicians Salary
Food Science Technicians in Minnesota make a median of $57,940 a year, or about $27.86 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $62,570 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,384/month, about 36.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Minnesota?
About food science technicians
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Minnesota sits well above the national pay line for food science technicians, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $52K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,384/month, which is 36% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level food science technicians (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Food Science Technicians salary by metro in Minnesota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $58K | +1% | 160 |
| Rochester | $53K | -8% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track food science technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 36% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food science technicians typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,521/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Minnesota?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $58K here vs. $52K nationally.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for food science technicians?
Minnesota pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food science technicians make in Minnesota?
The median is $57,940 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,010, and experienced food science technicians can clear $74,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,840/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 36% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $62,570 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.