Food Science Technicians Salary
Food Science Technicians in Nevada make a median of $59,070 a year, or about $28.4 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.79), that's roughly $59,194 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,501/month, about 36.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nevada. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Nevada?
About food science technicians
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What this looks like in Nevada
Nevada sits well above the national pay line for food science technicians, local pay runs about 13% 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 $1,501/month, which is 36.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.79) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nevada
Entry-level food science technicians (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Food Science Technicians salary by metro in Nevada
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno | $59K | +1% | 40 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $59K | -0% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track food science technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nevada numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nevada?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 36.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,501/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 Nevada?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food science technicians typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,833/month. At HUD’s $1,501/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Nevada?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $59K here vs. $52K nationally.
How does Nevada compare to the national average for food science technicians?
Nevada pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food science technicians make in Nevada?
The median is $59,070 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,220, and experienced food science technicians can clear $66,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Nevada?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,125/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,501/month, which eats 36.4% 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 Nevada?
Nevada has a Regional Price Parity of 99.79 (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 $59,194 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.