Food Science Technicians Salary
Food Science Technicians in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA make a median of $54,570 a year, or about $26.24 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers.
So what does $55K get you in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Scranton--Wilkes-Barre’s Regional Price Parity (93.6). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About food science technicians
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What this looks like in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
Food science technicians pay in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre tracks closely to the national median, $55K locally vs. $52K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,252/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for food science technicians in metros near Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $48K | , |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $60K | , |
| Lancaster | $53K | , |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $50K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Entry-level food science technicians (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Food Science Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Food Science Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $65K | +25% | 150 |
| Kentucky | $65K | +24% | 160 |
| Washington | $62K | +19% | 660 |
| Vermont | $61K | +17% | 50 |
| Illinois | $61K | +17% | 290 |
| Missouri | $60K | +14% | 150 |
| Nevada | $59K | +13% | 110 |
| Colorado | $59K | +12% | 270 |
| Florida | $59K | +12% | 250 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +11% | 380 |
| Maryland | $58K | +11% | 280 |
| Ohio | $57K | +9% | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $57K | +9% | 260 |
| New Jersey | $57K | +9% | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $56K | +7% | 540 |
| New York | $55K | +6% | 580 |
| California | $54K | +4% | 3,990 |
| Georgia | $53K | +2% | 260 |
| Michigan | $52K | +0% | 250 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -1% | 50 |
| Iowa | $51K | -3% | 420 |
| Oregon | $51K | -3% | 820 |
| Connecticut | $50K | -5% | N/A |
| Idaho | $49K | -6% | 560 |
| South Dakota | $49K | -6% | 100 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -7% | 130 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -7% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -8% | 590 |
| Texas | $48K | -8% | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -9% | 50 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -10% | 140 |
| New Mexico | $47K | -11% | 120 |
| Utah | $45K | -13% | 80 |
| Indiana | $45K | -14% | 530 |
| Louisiana | $44K | -15% | 30 |
| Alabama | $41K | -21% | 30 |
| Kansas | $40K | -23% | 60 |
| South Carolina | $39K | -24% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 38 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food science technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Scranton--Wilkes-Barre numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,252/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food science technicians typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,316/month. At HUD’s $1,252/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $55K locally vs. $52K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Scranton--Wilkes-Barre compare to the national average for food science technicians?
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food science technicians make in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The median is $54,570 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,600, and experienced food science technicians can clear $58,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,684/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,252/month, which eats 34% 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food science technicians salary is worth about $58,301 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.