Average Salary and Pay for Nutritionists/Dietetic Technician
Experience, industry credentials, geographic location, industry… a host of factors influence the earning potential for dietitians and nutritionists.
So, let’s explore salary information for:
- Registered Dietitians/Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and Dietetic Technician
- Registered/Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered
Learn more about where the demand for these two professions is headed in the coming years.
The following bachelors and Master’s programs offer career-focused instruction delivered by trained nutritionists with experience in the field. Find out more what each individual course of study offers through the locations below.
The following bachelors and Master’s programs offer career-focused instruction delivered by trained nutritionists with experience in the field. Find out more what each individual course of study offers through the locations below.
Purdue Global's Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Program is an approved holistic nutrition education program through the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP).
Arizona State University - Online offers an Online Masters in Medical Nutrition
UNC's MPH Nutrition concentration prepares students to provide, evaluate and communicate nutritional and dietary guidance that improves individual and population-wide health outcomes. In addition to developing their knowledge of nutrition science, students will explore behavior change, communication, counseling and the effects of dietary culture on individuals and communities.
Rasmussen University offers a Bachelor's Degree in Health & Wellness.
Grand Canyon University offers an M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Salary Information for Registered Dietitians and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2024, the average salary for dietitians and nutritionists across the nation was $74,770. Early career dietitians and nutritionists earned about $61,260 during this time, while mid-career pros earned about $73,850.*
RD and RDN Salary
Dietitians and nutritionists with significant experience and/or those who hold the Registered Dietitian (RD)/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) designation through the Commission on Dietetic Registration earned about $101,760.*
While the BLS doesn’t break down salary differences between registered and non-registered dietitians and nutritionists, it can be assumed that those at the higher end of the pay scale have earned the RD/RDN credential due to the demand for this credential by employers and for state certification/licensure and insurance reimbursement purposes.
Career Demand for Registered Dietitians (RD) and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN)
The BLS projects that between 2023 and 2033, job opportunities for dietitians and nutritionists will increase by 7.4%, faster than the average 4% expected increase across all occupations. An additional 6,000 jobs for dietitians and nutritionists are expected to be added nationwide during that time. Driving up the number of people that want to know how to become a nutritionist, it is projected that more dietitians and nutritionists will be needed to provide care for:
- Patients with medical conditions
- The elderly
- Increasing number of people who want to improve their overall health and wellness
Top-Paying Industries for Registered Dietitians and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
Salaries for dietitians and nutritionists can and do vary significantly based on industry. As of May 2024, the industries offering the highest average annual salary for dietitians and nutritionists are:
- Local government-owned colleges, universities, and professional schools: $100,130
- Wholesalers of non-durable goods: $96,520
- Office administrative services: $93,480
- Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, audiologists: $93,360
- Federal government (e.g., CDC, FDA, NIH, CMS): $91,060
Top-Paying Locations for Registered Dietitians and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
Demand and cost of living are two of the major players in terms of earning potential for dietitians and nutritionists across the country.
States Paying Higher Wages to Dietitians and Nutritionists
As expected, the state in which dietitians and nutritionists work often plays a big part in their earning potential. In general, the top-paying states for dietitians and nutritionists (according to average annual salary) align with higher costs of living:
- California: $94,390
- Oregon: $86,800
- Connecticut: $85,190
- Alaska: $84,150
- Maryland: $84,080
Cities Paying Higher Wages to Dietitians and Nutritionists
Similarly, you’ll find that the highest-paying metro areas (based on average annual salary) for dietitians and nutritionists are also those with some of the highest costs of living in the country:
- Vallejo, CA: $111,330
- San Jose (also includes Sunnyvale and Santa Clara), CA: $109,220
- San Francisco (also includes Oakland and Fremont), CA: $102,290
- Santa Rosa (also includes Petaluma), CA: $101,830
- Modesto, CA: $100,770
- Sacramento (also includes Roseville and Folsom), CA: $100,330
- Barnstable, MA: $98,870
- Bridgeport (also includes Stamford and Danbury), CT: $96,980
- Napa, CA: $96,530
- Santa Maria (also includes Santa Barbara), CA: $95,300
Nonmetropolitan Areas Paying Higher Wages to Dietitians and Nutritionists
While most nonmetropolitan areas of the country report lower salaries for dietitians and nutritionists than their counterparts in metropolitan areas, average salaries in some nonmetro areas exceed those in metro areas, including:
- North Arkansas nonmetro area: $92,350
- Nonmetro Alaska: $89,590
- Kauai nonmetro area: $83,990
- Nonmetro North Coast region of California: $83,330
- Nonmetro Oregon Coast: $81,610
Salary Information for Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs) and Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTRs)
Dietetic Technicians, Registered or DTRs (also called Nutrition and Dietetic Technicians, Registered or NDTRs) work under the supervision of registered dietitian/registered dietitian nutritionists.
As of May 2024, the average annual salary for DTRs/NDTRs was $39,560. Early career DTRs/NDTRs earned about $32,460, while those with at least a handful of years of experience (mid-career professionals) earned about $37,040. Experienced DTRs/NDTRs earned about $53,440 during this time.*
Career Demand for Dietetic Technicians, Registered and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered
The BLS projects a 4.3% increase in the number of jobs for DTRs/NDTRs between 2023 and 2033, rising from 25,000 employees to 26,100 employees during this time. According to the BLS, this occupation will experience about 3,200 annual job openings during this period due to a combination of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.
Top-Paying Industries for Dietetic Technicians, Registered and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered
Similar to dietitians and nutritionists, dietetic technicians may earn salaries that exceed the national average based on the industry in which they work. As of May 2024, the highest-paying industries for DTRs/NDTRs, according to average salary, included:
- State government-owned colleges, universities, and professional schools: $51,540
- State government-owned educational services: $51,500
- Offices of all other health practitioners: $51,320
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools: $51,180
- Privately owned colleges, universities, and professional schools: $50,790
Top-Paying Locations for Dietetic Technicians, Registered and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered
Just as it does with registered dietitians and registered dietitian nutritionists, location impacts the salary of a dietetic technician, registered and nutrition and dietetics technician, registered.
States Paying Higher Wages to Dietetic Technicians, Registered and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered
As expected, the top-paying states for DTRs/NDTRs are also those with higher costs of living. As of May 2024, the highest-paying states for these professionals, according to average annual salary, included:
- Arizona: $51,420
- Oregon: $50,450
- Minnesota: $49,080
- New York: $48,750
- California: $46,760
Cities Paying Higher Wages to Dietetic Technicians, Registered and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered
The highest-paying metro areas for dietetic technicians, according to average annual salary, as of May 2024 included:
- San Jose (also includes Sunnyvale and Santa Clara), CA: $54,970
- San Francisco (also includes Oakland and Fremont), CA: $54,580
- Portland (also includes Vancouver and Hillsboro), OR: $54,270
- Phoenix (also includes Mesa and Chandler), AZ: $53,650
- Tucson, AZ: $52,500
- Albany (also includes Schenectady and Troy), NY: $51,280
- Minneapolis (also includes St. Paul and Bloomington, WI), MN: $50,450
- Vallejo, CA: $49,880
- Sacramento (also includes Roseville and Folsom), CA: $48,560
- Seattle (also includes Tacoma and Bellevue), WA: $48,380
Non-Metropolitan Areas Paying Higher Wages to Dietetic Technicians, Registered and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered
Non-metropolitan areas tend to pay lower than average wages, in general. However, these areas paid dietetic technicians the highest average annual wages of their kind as of May 2024:
- Capital-Northern New York nonmetro area: $51,720
- Nonmetro mountains region of California: $48,480
- Nonmetro California: $45,490
- Nonmetro balance of Nevada: $37,070
- Nonmetro Northeastern Pennsylvania: $35,990
*2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job growth projections for dietitians and nutritionists and dietetic technicians reflect national data not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Salary statistics representing entry-level/early career = 25th percentile; mid-level= 50th percentile; senior-level/highly experienced = 90th percentile. Data accessed April 2025.