Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Arkansas make a median of $84,330 a year, or about $40.54 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $96,223 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 19.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in Arkansas?
About food scientists and technologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arkansas
Food scientists and technologists pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $84K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 19% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $117K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by metro in Arkansas
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $103K | +22% | 190 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $95K | +12% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track food scientists and technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 19% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,947/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $84K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Arkansas pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Arkansas?
The median is $84,330 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,120, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $165,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,383/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 19% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 scientists and technologists salary is worth about $96,223 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.