Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Maryland make a median of $93,330 a year, or about $44.87 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $146K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $94,502 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 30.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $93K get you in Maryland?
About food scientists and technologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Maryland
Food scientists and technologists pay in Maryland tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,795/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $146K or more, a $86K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by metro in Maryland
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $93K | +0% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track food scientists and technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 30.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,578/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Maryland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Maryland pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Maryland?
The median is $93,330 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,640, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $145,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,815/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 30.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food scientists and technologists salary go in Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $94,502 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.