Food Science Technicians Salary
Food Science Technicians in New Mexico make a median of $46,500 a year, or about $22.36 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $49,968 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 35.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $47K get you in New Mexico?
About food science technicians
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for food science technicians in New Mexico runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $52K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 35.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for food science technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level food science technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track food science technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 35.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food science technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,158/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 New Mexico?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $47K here vs. $52K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for food science technicians?
New Mexico pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do food science technicians make in New Mexico?
The median is $46,500 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,960, and experienced food science technicians can clear $51,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,176/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 35.2% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $49,968 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.