Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Nebraska make a median of $72,230 a year, or about $34.72 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $130K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $80,211 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,113/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Nebraska?
About food scientists and technologists
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Pay for food scientists and technologists in Nebraska runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $89K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,113/month, 23.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Nebraska can be a reasonable trade-off for food scientists and technologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nebraska
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $130K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by metro in Nebraska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $91K | +26% | 60 |
| Lincoln | $56K | -22% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track food scientists and technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,043/month. At HUD’s $1,113/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 Nebraska?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $72K here vs. $89K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Nebraska pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Nebraska?
The median is $72,230 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,710, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $129,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,676/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 23.8% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $80,211 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.