How much does a food scientist and technologist make in Chicago?
$100,400a year
Median yearly pay for food scientist and technologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $48.26 an hour or $8,366 a month.
- Hourly
- $48.26
- Vs. national median
- +13%
- Rank among cities
- 11 of 64
- Jobs in the area
- 610
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $65,810Median: $100,400Highest 10%: $173,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,810 | $31.64 | |
| 25th | $76,970 | $37.00 | |
| Median | $100,400 | $48.26 | |
| 75th | $130,900 | $62.94 | |
| 90th | $173,800 | $83.53 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for food scientist and technologists.
| St. Louis, MO | $108,200 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $137,100 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $133,500 |
| Materials Scientist | $133,300 |
| Physical Scientist | $121,700 |
| Geoscientist | $114,000 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $112,800 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $104,600 |
| Epidemiologist | $103,800 |
| Political Scientist | $103,800 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialist | $101,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food scientist and technologist make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $48.26 ($100,400 a year).
Do food scientist and technologists make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $100,400 against $88,720 nationally, 13% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $94,340, so Chicago pays 6% more.
Where does Chicago rank for food scientist and technologist pay?
11 of 64 metro areas with data.
How much does a food scientist and technologist make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $65,810 or less a year; the top 10% make $173,800 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.