Food Scientists and Technologists Salary
Food Scientists and Technologists in Wisconsin make a median of $83,020 a year, or about $39.91 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $88,010 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 22.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $83K get you in Wisconsin?
About food scientists and technologists
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Food scientists and technologists pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $83K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 22.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level food scientists and technologists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary by metro in Wisconsin
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $86K | +4% | 90 |
| Madison | $66K | -20% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track food scientists and technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food scientists and technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 22.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food scientists and technologists in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food scientists and technologists typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,445/month. At HUD’s $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $83K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for food scientists and technologists?
Wisconsin pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do food scientists and technologists make in Wisconsin?
The median is $83,020 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,410, and experienced food scientists and technologists can clear $131,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,286/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 22.7% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $88,010 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.