Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in New Mexico make a median of $79,130 a year, or about $38.04 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $85,031 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 21.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $79K get you in New Mexico?
About food scientists and technologists
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for food scientists and technologists in New Mexico runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $89K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, New Mexico can be a reasonable trade-off for food scientists and technologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track food scientists and technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,190/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 New Mexico?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $79K here vs. $89K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
New Mexico pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — below the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in New Mexico?
The median is $79,130 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,170, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $100,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,098/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 21.9% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $85,031 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.