Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Tennessee make a median of $81,760 a year, or about $39.31 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $91,067 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $82K get you in Tennessee?
About food scientists and technologists
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Food scientists and technologists pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $82K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 22.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $41K 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 Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 22.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,880/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Tennessee pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Tennessee?
The median is $81,760 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,660, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $105,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,492/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 22.1% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $91,067 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.