SOC 19-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Scientists and Technologists — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in San Jose, CA comes to $110,810 a year, ahead of the national median of $88,720 by 24.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in San Jose, CA comes to $110,810 a year, ahead of the national median of $88,720 by 24.9%. Pay ranges from under $74,990 at the tenth percentile to more than $171,720 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $88,130 to $135,060.
The area has 50 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.55 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $98,930. Of the 574 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 175th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,990 | −15.5% |
| 25th | $88,130 | −0.7% |
| Median (50th) | $110,810 | +24.9% |
| 75th | $135,060 | +52.2% |
| 90th | $171,720 | +93.6% |
| Mean | $117,020 | +31.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $98,930 | 380 | |
| 2 | Merced | $96,430 | 40 | |
| 3 | Fresno | $93,750 | 110 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles | $91,060 | 550 | |
| 5 | Salinas | $90,080 | 30 | |
| 6 | Stockton | $90,040 | 60 | |
| 7 | Visalia | $89,050 | 60 | |
| 8 | Sacramento | $88,010 | 110 | |
| 9 | San Diego | $85,930 | 80 | |
| 10 | Santa Rosa | $85,610 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $110,810 buys what $100,099 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$110,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$100,099US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $110,810 a year, 24.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $74,990 to $171,720 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $98,930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Scientists and Technologists in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $110,810, or $53.27 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 San Jose, CA is 24.9% higher. 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 San Jose, CA earns more than $171,720 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $74,990 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 San Francisco, at $98,930 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in San Jose, CA. 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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