Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Illinois make a median of $94,340 a year, or about $45.35 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $100,522 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 23.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $94K get you in Illinois?
About food scientists and technologists
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What this looks like in Illinois
Food scientists and technologists pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $94K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 24.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Illinois
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $103K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $100K | +6% | 610 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 24.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,824/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $94K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Illinois pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Illinois?
The median is $94,340 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,730, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $166,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,840/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 24.1% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $100,522 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.