SOC 19-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Scientists and Technologists — Nebraska
Nebraska · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Nebraska is $72,230 a year, trailing the national median of $88,720 by 18.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Nebraska is $72,230 a year, trailing the national median of $88,720 by 18.6%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $55,570 and $99,100. The lowest tenth earn under $50,710, while the highest tenth earn more than $129,740.
The area has 230 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.64 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Nebraska ranks number 36th out of 39 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Omaha records the highest median at $90,770. Of the 662 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 195th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,710 | −42.8% |
| 25th | $55,570 | −37.4% |
| Median (50th) | $72,230 | −18.6% |
| 75th | $99,100 | +11.7% |
| 90th | $129,740 | +46.2% |
| Mean | $81,210 | −8.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Nebraska
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Nebraska run 9.9% below the national average, so the median of $72,230 goes as far as $80,166 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$72,230as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$80,166US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $72,230 a year, 18.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,710 to $129,740 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 36th of 39 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Omaha, at $90,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Scientists and Technologists in Nebraska?
The median annual wage is $72,230, or $34.72 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $88,720, so pay in Nebraska is 18.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Nebraska earns more than $129,740 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,710 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Omaha, at $90,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Nebraska. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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