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Best states for a food technologist
Quoted expert
Darrell Cockburn Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for food technologists? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for food technologist jobs.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of food technologists in America is $98,000.
The median salary for food technologists in Montana is $75,186. Compare that to the median salary in Colorado of $44,262, which ranked worst for food technologists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a food technologist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for food technologists in 2026
1. Montana
Total food technologist jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $75,186 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. Michigan
Total food technologist jobs: 1,160 Average annual salary: $72,336 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
3. South Dakota
Total food technologist jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $70,199 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
4. Kansas
Total food technologist jobs: 445 Average annual salary: $68,349 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
5. New York
Total food technologist jobs: 1,696 Average annual salary: $76,486 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1
6. South Carolina
Total food technologist jobs: 681 Average annual salary: $65,802 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
7. Rhode Island
Total food technologist jobs: 164 Average annual salary: $68,140 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
8. Illinois
Total food technologist jobs: 1,319 Average annual salary: $76,142 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
9. New Hampshire
Total food technologist jobs: 253 Average annual salary: $67,043 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
10. Maine
Total food technologist jobs: 231 Average annual salary: $61,996 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
Food technologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a food technologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a food technologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $75,186 | $45,000 | 1,050,493 | 189 |
| 2 | Michigan | $72,336 | $43,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,160 |
| 3 | South Dakota | $70,199 | $42,000 | 869,666 | 155 |
| 4 | Kansas | $68,349 | $40,000 | 2,913,123 | 445 |
| 5 | New York | $76,486 | $46,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,696 |
| 6 | South Carolina | $65,802 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 681 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $68,140 | $42,000 | 1,059,639 | 164 |
| 8 | Illinois | $76,142 | $45,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,319 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $67,043 | $41,000 | 1,342,795 | 253 |
| 10 | Maine | $61,996 | $38,000 | 1,335,907 | 231 |
| 11 | Vermont | $64,819 | $40,000 | 623,657 | 111 |
| 12 | Delaware | $67,176 | $40,000 | 961,939 | 165 |
| 13 | Alaska | $62,231 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 153 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $61,599 | $38,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,646 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $63,847 | $39,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,199 |
| 16 | Maryland | $70,351 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 740 |
| 17 | Iowa | $62,245 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 451 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $60,281 | $36,000 | 5,795,483 | 737 |
| 19 | Georgia | $59,921 | $35,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,465 |
| 20 | Nevada | $61,555 | $35,000 | 2,998,039 | 259 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $55,618 | $33,000 | 579,315 | 97 |
| 22 | Indiana | $54,296 | $32,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,131 |
| 23 | California | $68,208 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,874 |
| 24 | Idaho | $60,691 | $35,000 | 1,716,943 | 186 |
| 25 | Missouri | $58,368 | $34,000 | 6,113,532 | 730 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $59,459 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,325 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $66,158 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 126 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $58,035 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 338 |
| 29 | Washington | $57,695 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,004 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $55,296 | $34,000 | 3,588,184 | 505 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $49,283 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 379 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $58,134 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 708 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $49,857 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 137 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $48,051 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 552 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $52,198 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 249 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $50,372 | $29,000 | 6,715,984 | 818 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $51,936 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 260 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $61,712 | $48,000 | 1,427,538 | 83 |
| 39 | Ohio | $51,960 | $31,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,065 |
| 40 | Oregon | $54,627 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 450 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $44,419 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 397 |
| 42 | Arizona | $44,284 | $26,000 | 7,016,270 | 915 |
| 43 | Virginia | $51,776 | $30,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,168 |
| 44 | Alabama | $48,221 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 548 |
| 45 | Texas | $48,826 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,465 |
| 46 | Florida | $37,735 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,676 |
| 47 | Utah | $49,938 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 348 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $35,673 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,479 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $38,485 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 514 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $43,060 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 188 |
| 51 | Colorado | $44,262 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 698 |
Highest paying states for food technologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Food Technologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $75,186 |
| 2 | Michigan | $72,336 |
| 3 | South Dakota | $70,199 |
| 4 | Kansas | $68,349 |
| 5 | New York | $76,486 |
| 6 | South Carolina | $65,802 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $68,140 |
| 8 | Illinois | $76,142 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $67,043 |
| 10 | Maine | $61,996 |
| 11 | Vermont | $64,819 |
| 12 | Delaware | $67,176 |
| 13 | Alaska | $62,231 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $61,599 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $63,847 |
| 16 | Maryland | $70,351 |
| 17 | Iowa | $62,245 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $60,281 |
| 19 | Georgia | $59,921 |
| 20 | Nevada | $61,555 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $55,618 |
| 22 | Indiana | $54,296 |
| 23 | California | $68,208 |
| 24 | Idaho | $60,691 |
| 25 | Missouri | $58,368 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $59,459 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $66,158 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $58,035 |
| 29 | Washington | $57,695 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $55,296 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $49,283 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $58,134 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $49,857 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $48,051 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $52,198 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $50,372 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $51,936 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $61,712 |
| 39 | Ohio | $51,960 |
| 40 | Oregon | $54,627 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $44,419 |
| 42 | Arizona | $44,284 |
| 43 | Virginia | $51,776 |
| 44 | Alabama | $48,221 |
| 45 | Texas | $48,826 |
| 46 | Florida | $37,735 |
| 47 | Utah | $49,938 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $35,673 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $38,485 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $43,060 |
| 51 | Colorado | $44,262 |
Expert opinions on the best states for food technologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for food technologists to find work opportunities?
Darrell Cockburn Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Food Science, Pennsylvania State University
Food Science is a remarkably stable field for graduates to find employment in as it is a relatively recession-proof industry; even at the worst of times, people still need to eat. Places with vital food industries, particularly with large companies, will be the best to weather the storm. Here in Pennsylvania, we have a robust food processing industry, and our Food Science graduates have continued to be successful in finding employment.
Food technologist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025