Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Pennsylvania make a median of $83,380 a year, or about $40.09 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $87,796 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 25.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $83K get you in Pennsylvania?
About food scientists and technologists
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Food scientists and technologists pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $83K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $96K | +15% | 230 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $93K | +11% | 40 |
| Lancaster | $86K | +4% | 40 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $76K | -9% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track food scientists and technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,268/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $83K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Pennsylvania pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $83,380 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,460, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $120,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,374/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 25.1% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $87,796 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.