Research and develop food products, improve processing methods, and ensure safety standards. Median salary in Raleigh: $83K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Raleigh, North Carolina. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Food Scientists in Raleigh earn approximately 11% higher than the US national median for this role — a $8,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Raleigh's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Raleigh's cost-of-living index (102), the median Food Scientist salary buys the equivalent of $81,373 in a US-average-cost city. That's $6,373 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Raleigh ($1,600/mo) consumes approximately 35% of an after-tax median Food Scientist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($112K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $83K by 2030.
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The median Food Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC is $83,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Raleigh–NC metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Food Scientists in Raleigh with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $61,000 and $83,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $83,000 to $112,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $112,000 to $152,000 or more.
Raleigh has a cost of living index of 102 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Raleigh are close to the national average. North Carolina has a 4.75% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in Food Science or Chemistry; advanced degree preferred. 25% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.