Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Ann Arbor, MI make a median of $105,420 a year, or about $50.68 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.88), that's roughly $104,500 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,656/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $105K get you in Ann Arbor?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ann Arbor’s Regional Price Parity (100.88). 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 scientists and technologists
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What this looks like in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor sits well above the national pay line for food scientists and technologists, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $89K. Rent runs $1,656/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.88) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for food scientists and technologists in metros near Ann Arbor, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $68K | $68K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $79K | $82K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $63K | $66K |
| Cincinnati | $90K | $95K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ann Arbor, MI
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Food Scientists and Technologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $109K | +22% | 90 |
| Missouri | $106K | +19% | 390 |
| New Jersey | $104K | +18% | 630 |
| Massachusetts | $104K | +17% | 420 |
| Florida | $101K | +14% | 170 |
| Colorado | $100K | +12% | 320 |
| Minnesota | $99K | +12% | 670 |
| Kentucky | $99K | +11% | 170 |
| Alabama | $97K | +10% | 60 |
| Washington | $95K | +7% | 250 |
| Illinois | $94K | +6% | 780 |
| New York | $94K | +6% | 660 |
| California | $94K | +6% | 2,210 |
| Virginia | $94K | +5% | 70 |
| Maryland | $93K | +5% | 270 |
| Texas | $91K | +2% | 840 |
| Arizona | $90K | +2% | N/A |
| Maine | $89K | +1% | 30 |
| Rhode Island | $88K | -1% | 40 |
| Georgia | $86K | -3% | 560 |
| Kansas | $85K | -4% | 380 |
| Oklahoma | $85K | -4% | 50 |
| Arkansas | $84K | -5% | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $83K | -6% | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $83K | -6% | 410 |
| Iowa | $82K | -8% | 380 |
| Tennessee | $82K | -8% | 70 |
| Oregon | $82K | -8% | 270 |
| Nevada | $81K | -9% | 50 |
| North Carolina | $80K | -10% | 230 |
| New Mexico | $79K | -11% | 30 |
| Idaho | $77K | -13% | 140 |
| Michigan | $77K | -13% | 430 |
| Ohio | $77K | -13% | 270 |
| Utah | $73K | -17% | 120 |
| Nebraska | $72K | -19% | 230 |
| South Dakota | $71K | -20% | 90 |
| Indiana | $69K | -22% | 300 |
| Montana | $52K | -41% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food scientists and technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ann Arbor numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ann Arbor?
Yes — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 25.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,656/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Ann Arbor?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,934/month. At HUD’s $1,656/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food scientists and technologist a high-paying job in Ann Arbor?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $105K here vs. $89K nationally.
How does Ann Arbor compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Ann Arbor pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Ann Arbor, MI?
The median is $105,420 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,560, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $134,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Ann Arbor?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,506/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,656/month, which eats 25.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a food scientists and technologists salary go in Ann Arbor?
Ann Arbor has a Regional Price Parity of 100.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food scientists and technologists salary is worth about $104,500 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food scientists and technologists 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.