Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Georgia make a median of $86,050 a year, or about $41.37 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $151K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $93,645 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 26.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $86K get you in Georgia?
About food scientists and technologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Georgia
Food scientists and technologists pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $86K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,434/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $151K or more, a $120K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by metro in Georgia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $108K | +25% | 320 |
Compare to other states
Track food scientists and technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 26.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,862/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 77% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $86K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Georgia pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Georgia?
The median is $86,050 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,030, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $151,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,387/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 26.6% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $93,645 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.