Paycheck Atlas

Food Scientists and Technologists salary in San Diego, CA

The median food scientists and technologists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earns $85,930 a year, 3% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $5,272 a month.

10th percentile
$59,490
25th percentile
$70,970
Median percentile
$85,930
75th percentile
$119,990
90th percentile
$141,750

Based on 80 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$63,267 take-home a year
Gross pay$85,930
Federal income tax−$10,075
Social Security + Medicare−$6,574
California income tax (approx.)−$6,015
Monthly take-home$5,272
Every two weeks$2,433

Does it go far here?

$76,801Median pay in San Diego, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 111.9 vs 100).
43%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,246 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in San Diego, CA

JobMedian pay
Physicians, All Other$323,050
Family Medicine Physicians$295,530
Pediatricians, General$262,650
Chief Executives$238,440
Natural Sciences Managers$207,200
Computer and Information Systems Managers$206,740
Architectural and Engineering Managers$202,810
Lawyers$178,220

All food scientists and technologists salaries · Take-home pay in California