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Food Scientists and Technologists Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 2,210 Food Scientists and Technologists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
2,210
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
2.21
workers
Location Quotient
6.55
vs national avg
Average Salary
$97K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 6.55 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Food Scientists and Technologists professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
2,210
National: 12,820
17.2% of national
Jobs per 1,000
2.21
National: 0.34
+550.0%
Average Salary
$97K
National: $91K
+6.9%

Top States by Food Scientists and Technologists Employment

#1
2,210
2,210
employed
#2
840
840
employed
#3
780
780
employed
#4
670
670
employed
#5
660
660
employed
#6
630
630
employed
#7
560
560
employed
#8
430
430
employed
#9
420
420
employed
#10
410
410
employed

What Does a Food Scientists and Technologists Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Food Scientists and Technologists in California is $97,980. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Food Scientists and Technologists jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 2,210 Food Scientists and Technologists professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Food Scientists and Technologists in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Food Scientists and Technologists jobs (LQ: 6.55). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Food Scientists and Technologists in California?

The average (mean) salary for Food Scientists and Technologists in California is $97980/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Food Scientists and Technologists professionals?

The top state for Food Scientists and Technologists employment is California with 2,210 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

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Food Scientists and Technologists Employment in Other States

Compare Food Scientists and Technologists labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Food Scientists and Technologists & California Resources

Drill deeper into Food Scientists and Technologists pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Food Scientists and Technologists (SOC 191012) in California.

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