Food Science Technician salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Food Science Technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $48,480 a year ($23.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,430 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $52,130. Pay here is 11% lower than the California statewide median of $54,200. There are 0.11 food science technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $53,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food science technicians in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,800 | $19.62 |
| 25th percentile | $46,450 | $22.33 |
| Median | $48,480 | $23.31 |
| 75th percentile | $58,170 | $27.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,430 | $38.19 |
| Average (mean) | $53,800 | $25.86 |
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 | $4,040 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,020 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,864.62 |
| Weekly | $932.31 |
| Hourly | $23.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,480 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $64,620 | 200 |
| Napa, CA | $61,430 | 140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,980 | 310 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,580 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $58,640 | 110 |
| Vallejo, CA | $57,630 | 70 |
| Modesto, CA | $56,220 | 180 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $54,410 | 970 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $53,530 | 80 |
| Salinas, CA | $52,870 | 50 |
| Chico, CA | $51,390 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $50,900 | 390 |
| Merced, CA | $50,750 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $50,390 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $49,790 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | $49,270 | 220 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,100 | 90 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $46,710 | 60 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,350 | 250 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $75,970 | $36.52 |
| Biological Technician | $67,060 | $32.24 |
| Chemical Technician | $57,270 | $27.54 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $66,520 | $31.98 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $58,320 | $28.04 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $61,880 | $29.75 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $105,320 | $50.63 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $82,350 | $39.59 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $130,980 | $62.97 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $108,350 | $52.09 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $72,090 | $34.66 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,230 | $48.67 |
| Chemist | $95,160 | $45.75 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,100 | $51.01 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for food science technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $48,480 a year, or $23.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food science technicians make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of food science technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $79,430 a year. The top 25% earn $58,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for food science technicians in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,800 a year, and a quarter of food science technicians earn $46,450 or less.
How many food science technicians work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 170 food science technicians are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.