Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Lawrence, KS make a median of $64,210 a year, or about $30.87 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers.
So what does $64K get you in Lawrence?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lawrence’s Regional Price Parity (90.2). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About food scientists and technologists
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What this looks like in Lawrence
Pay for food scientists and technologists in Lawrence runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $89K. Rent runs $1,182/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.2 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for food scientists and technologists in metros near Lawrence, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $80K | , |
| St. Louis | $108K | , |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $100K | , |
| Kansas City | $105K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lawrence, KS
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Food Scientists and Technologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $109K | +22% | 90 |
| Missouri | $106K | +19% | 390 |
| New Jersey | $104K | +18% | 630 |
| Massachusetts | $104K | +17% | 420 |
| Florida | $101K | +14% | 170 |
| Colorado | $100K | +12% | 320 |
| Minnesota | $99K | +12% | 670 |
| Kentucky | $99K | +11% | 170 |
| Alabama | $97K | +10% | 60 |
| Washington | $95K | +7% | 250 |
| Illinois | $94K | +6% | 780 |
| New York | $94K | +6% | 660 |
| California | $94K | +6% | 2,210 |
| Virginia | $94K | +5% | 70 |
| Maryland | $93K | +5% | 270 |
| Texas | $91K | +2% | 840 |
| Arizona | $90K | +2% | N/A |
| Maine | $89K | +1% | 30 |
| Rhode Island | $88K | -1% | 40 |
| Georgia | $86K | -3% | 560 |
| Kansas | $85K | -4% | 380 |
| Oklahoma | $85K | -4% | 50 |
| Arkansas | $84K | -5% | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $83K | -6% | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $83K | -6% | 410 |
| Iowa | $82K | -8% | 380 |
| Tennessee | $82K | -8% | 70 |
| Oregon | $82K | -8% | 270 |
| Nevada | $81K | -9% | 50 |
| North Carolina | $80K | -10% | 230 |
| New Mexico | $79K | -11% | 30 |
| Idaho | $77K | -13% | 140 |
| Michigan | $77K | -13% | 430 |
| Ohio | $77K | -13% | 270 |
| Utah | $73K | -17% | 120 |
| Nebraska | $72K | -19% | 230 |
| South Dakota | $71K | -20% | 90 |
| Indiana | $69K | -22% | 300 |
| Montana | $52K | -41% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food scientists and technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lawrence numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lawrence?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,182/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Lawrence?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,774/month. At HUD’s $1,182/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 Lawrence?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $64K here vs. $89K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lawrence compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Lawrence pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Lawrence, KS?
The median is $64,210 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,230, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $115,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Lawrence?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,213/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,182/month, which eats 28.1% 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 Lawrence?
Lawrence has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food scientists and technologists salary is worth about $71,186 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.