Food Science Technician salary in Kennewick-Richland, WA
Food Science Technicians in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area earn a median of $48,550 a year ($23.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,670 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $52,130. Pay here is 22% lower than the Washington statewide median of $62,070. There are 0.71 food science technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 7.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food science technicians in Kennewick-Richland, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,250 | $20.31 |
| 25th percentile | $45,630 | $21.94 |
| Median | $48,550 | $23.34 |
| 75th percentile | $49,040 | $23.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| Average (mean) | $49,750 | $23.92 |
Half of food science technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,045.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,022.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,867.31 |
| Weekly | $933.65 |
| Hourly | $23.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,550 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Science Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $79,850 | 420 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $51,570 | 280 |
| Yakima, WA | $47,590 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for food science technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $65,360 |
| Kentucky | $64,770 |
| Washington | $62,070 |
| Vermont | $60,980 |
| Illinois | $60,820 |
| Missouri | $59,570 |
| Nevada | $59,070 |
| Colorado | $58,540 |
| Florida | $58,500 |
| Minnesota | $57,940 |
See Food Science Technician pay in every state or the Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kennewick-Richland, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technician | $52,700 | $25.34 |
| Chemical Technician | $63,300 | $30.43 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $58,790 | $28.26 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $125,970 | $60.56 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $97,770 | $47.01 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $122,180 | $58.74 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,100 | $46.20 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $85,140 | $40.93 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $132,830 | $63.86 |
| School Psychologist | $115,650 | $55.60 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $82,880 | $39.85 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $99,110 | $47.65 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Kennewick-Richland, WA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food science technician make in Kennewick-Richland, WA?
The median salary for food science technicians in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area is $48,550 a year, or $23.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food science technicians make in Kennewick-Richland, WA?
The top 10% of food science technicians in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area earn at least $58,670 a year. The top 25% earn $49,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for food science technicians in Kennewick-Richland, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,250 a year, and a quarter of food science technicians earn $45,630 or less.
How many food science technicians work in Kennewick-Richland, WA?
About 90 food science technicians are employed in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.