Food Scientist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 30 certified H-1B filings in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Redwood City, Berkeley, Hayward, Oakland, Fremont.
Also listed as: Food Technologist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $99,500 |
| 25th | $110,157 |
| 50th (median) | $120,414 |
| 75th | $125,466 |
| 90th | $146,044 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $75,525 | $72,763 | $91,187 | 31 |
| FY2021 | $93,000 | $85,000 | $120,000 | 33 |
| FY2022 | $108,000 | $86,674 | $115,690 | 36 |
| FY2023 | $94,993 | $85,000 | $103,854 | 37 |
| FY2024 | $104,270 | $89,773 | $118,789 | 26 |
| FY2025 | $120,827 | $110,157 | $139,999 | 17 |
| FY2026 | $114,400 | $110,157 | $120,000 | 13 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median Food Scientist salary of $120,414 is worth about $104,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Food Scientists and Technologists in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $98,930 in May 2025 (380 employed). The H-1B median here is $120,414, 22% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Impossible Foods | too few | 4 |
| Cross Cultured Foods PBC | too few | 3 |
| Hormel Foods Corporate Services | too few | 3 |
| Premier Nutrition Company | too few | 3 |
| Climax Foods | too few | 2 |
| Eurofins DiscoverX Products | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | $114,400 | 13 |
| Expert · Level IV | $125,466 | 11 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior · Level III | $110,157 | $114,400 | 13 |
| Expert · Level IV | $120,827 | $125,466 | 11 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.