Salary guide, May 2025
Food Scientist pay in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Food Scientists and Technologists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA was $110,810 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $88,130 and $135,060.
The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA median is $22,090 above the national median of $88,720, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 19-1012 Food Scientists and Technologists
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
What should you know about san Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74,990 | $88,130 | $110,810 | $135,060 | $171,720 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36.05 | $42.37 | $53.27 | $64.94 | $82.56 |
BLS estimated 50 workers employed in this occupation in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Location quotient: 0.55.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $52,920 | $68,810 | $88,720 | $116,650 | $145,280 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.44 | $33.08 | $42.65 | $56.08 | $69.85 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Food Scientist median is $110,810. The all-occupations median in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $84,050. Ratio: 1.32 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.55 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $81,830 | $89,360 | $119,920 |
| May 2025 | $88,130 | $110,810 | $135,060 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 19-1012 Food Scientists and Technologists, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 19-1012 Food Scientists and Technologists, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | $96,430 | $78,760 to $119,670 |
| Salinas, CA | $90,080 | $71,460 to $120,730 |
All roles in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · National page · Food Scientist ranked across metros