Food Science Technicians pay in California
$56,850avg. a year
$27.33 an hour · 3,990 employed
Food Science Technicians in California earn an average of $56,850 a year. That is about the same as the U.S. average of $56,660. The best-paying metro area is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $66,920.
$54,200Median pay
$27.33Average hourly
+16%Avg. pay since 2021
#16Of 38 states
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for food science technicians by metro area. Swipe to see all 20.
1200 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$66,920
$32.17 an hour
270 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$63,420
$30.49 an hour
3310 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$63,340
$30.45 an hour
4140 jobs
Napa, CA
$63,120
$30.35 an hour
570 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$61,670
$29.65 an hour
6110 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$60,720
$29.19 an hour
7970 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$56,900
$27.36 an hour
880 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$56,530
$27.18 an hour
9210 jobs
Merced, CA
$56,410
$27.12 an hour
10180 jobs
Modesto, CA
$55,930
$26.89 an hour
11140 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$55,700
$26.78 an hour
1250 jobs
Salinas, CA
$55,600
$26.73 an hour
1340 jobs
Chico, CA
$55,280
$26.58 an hour
14390 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$54,930
$26.41 an hour
1570 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$53,870
$25.90 an hour
16170 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$53,800
$25.86 an hour
17220 jobs
Visalia, CA
$51,310
$24.67 an hour
1890 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$50,830
$24.44 an hour
1960 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$50,830
$24.44 an hour
20250 jobs
Fresno, CA
$50,390
$24.22 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Food Science Technicians pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California food science technicians work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $51k$51k–$55k$55k–$59k$59k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $56,660 | $27.24 |
| California | $56,850 | $27.33 |
| Nevada | $58,820 | $28.28 |
| Oregon | $51,980 | $24.99 |
Related jobs in California
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do food science technicians make in California?
The average is $56,850 a year, and the median is $54,200. That is about the same as the U.S. average of $56,660.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$27.33 an hour on average; the median is $26.06.
Where in California do they earn the most?
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA ($66,920), followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($63,420). The lowest average among 20 metro areas with data is Fresno, CA ($50,390).
How does California rank?
California ranks #16 of 38 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2021–May 2025), occupation code 19-4013. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national food science technicians page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.