Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Indiana make a median of $69,350 a year, or about $33.34 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $75,536 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 24.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $69K get you in Indiana?
About food scientists and technologists
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What this looks like in Indiana
Pay for food scientists and technologists in Indiana runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $89K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 24.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Indiana can be a reasonable trade-off for food scientists and technologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by metro in Indiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $70K | +1% | 70 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 24.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,651/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Indiana?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $69K here vs. $89K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Indiana pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Indiana?
The median is $69,350 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,180, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $108,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,588/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 24.9% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $75,536 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.