Food Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Food Technician make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Food Technician in the United States is $70,174 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

However, a Food Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $81,782
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,741 to $76,250
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $59,795
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View as table View as graph 25% $64,741 10% $59,795 90% $81,782 75% $76,250 $70,174 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Food Technician Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $76,250 $6,354 $1,466 $37
Average $70,174 $5,848 $1,349 $34
25th Percentile $64,741 $5,395 $1,245 $31
Check out Food Technician Job Openings in the United States
Formula Room Technician

Nationwide Childrens Hospital - Columbus, OH

Physician Other Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Instacart

Instacart - Columbus, OH

Search More Food Technician Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Food Technician Salaries

A Food Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Food Technicians

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $88,510
  • San Francisco: $87,541
  • Oakland: $85,696

What Skills Can Increase a Food Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.84% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • New Product Development (Mentioned in 2.25% Job Postings): In business and engineering, new product development (NPD) covers the complete process of bringing a new product to market. A central aspect of NPD is product design, along with various business considerations. New product development is described broadly as the transformation of a market opportunity into a product available for sale. The product can be tangible (something physical which one can touch) or intangible (like a service, experience, or belief), though sometimes services and other processes are distinguished from "products." NPD requires an understanding of customer needs and wants, the competitive environment, and the nature of the market. Cost, time and quality are the main variables that drive customer needs. Aiming at these three variables, innovative companies develop continuous practices and strategies to better satisfy customer requirements and to increase their own market share by a regular development of new products. There are many uncertainties and challenges which companies must face throughout the process. The use of best practices and the elimination of barriers to communication are the main concerns for the management of the NPD .[citation needed]
  • Technical Support (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Offering hands-on assistance and solutions to end-users in addressing and troubleshooting technical issues.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.84%
New Product Development 2.25%
Technical Support 1.57%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Food Technician's salary.
  • Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Business Acumen: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Interpersonal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Development
$89,121
27%
Business Acumen
$87,717
25%
Interpersonal Communication
$87,016
24%
Manufacturing Processes
$81,402
16%
Process Development
$80,700
15%
Chemistry
$80,700
15%
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Food Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Food Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and MFG Durable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Food Technician positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Food Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Food Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$91,226$44.030%
MFG Durable$84,209$40.020%
Chemicals$77,191$37.010%

Food Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Food Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Food Technician

Salaries for a Food Technician can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $79,606 in 2023 to around $79,158 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Food Technician salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Food Technician Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$79,606
2024
$79,933
2025
$79,158
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $79,606
2024 $79,933
2025 $79,158
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Food Technician

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Food Technician

Here are companies hiring for Food Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Food Technician Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Food Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Continuum Medical Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    Continuum Medical Staffing | Columbus, OH

    PSYCHIATRIST- CHILD/ADOLESCENT COLUMBUS OHIO We are seeking a Board-Certified Child/ Adolescent Psychiatrist for a permanent position in Columbus Ohio No V... more

    7 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Brand & External Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare indust... more

    18 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    19 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    19 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    19 Days Ago

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FAQ about Food Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Food Technician?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Food Technician roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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