Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Idaho make a median of $77,440 a year, or about $37.23 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $82,488 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Idaho?
About food scientists and technologists
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for food scientists and technologists in Idaho runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $89K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Idaho can be a reasonable trade-off for food scientists and technologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by metro in Idaho
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $73K | -5% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track food scientists and technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,496/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Idaho?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $77K here vs. $89K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Idaho pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — below the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Idaho?
The median is $77,440 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,600, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $117,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,953/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 22.9% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $82,488 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.