Dietetic technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,720 | $14.29 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $37,640 | $18.09 |
| Mean (average) | $40,630 | $19.54 |
| 90th percentile | $54,020 | $25.97 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Dietetic technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 47 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $45,970 | $37,360 | $58,900 | 370 | 0.57 |
| Arkansas | $31,900 | $27,040 | $41,090 | 210 | 0.78 |
| California | $46,410 | $36,810 | $64,020 | 6,310 | 1.71 |
| Colorado | $47,810 | $37,330 | $55,160 | 230 | 0.39 |
| Connecticut | $42,040 | $35,690 | $53,770 | 330 | 0.95 |
| Delaware | $41,280 | $33,280 | $49,880 | 150 | 1.5 |
| District of Columbia | $40,810 | $38,580 | $52,670 | 190 | 1.36 |
| Florida | $34,740 | $31,500 | $39,540 | 2,420 | 1.2 |
| Georgia | $34,240 | $24,810 | $62,870 | 490 | 0.49 |
| Hawaii | $43,580 | $34,820 | $53,460 | 130 | 0.99 |
| Idaho | $32,620 | $28,960 | $50,450 | 170 | 1 |
| Illinois | $42,550 | $36,490 | $49,840 | 590 | 0.48 |
| Indiana | $31,660 | $27,570 | $45,820 | 690 | 1.06 |
| Iowa | $35,220 | $25,760 | $40,660 | 350 | 1.09 |
| Kansas | $35,060 | $32,600 | $43,060 | 140 | 0.49 |
| Kentucky | $28,970 | $22,580 | $38,250 | 430 | 1.06 |
| Louisiana | $28,860 | $20,800 | $36,590 | 190 | 0.49 |
| Maine | $42,320 | $39,260 | $50,820 | 40 | 0.31 |
| Maryland | $33,710 | $32,290 | $43,070 | 1,670 | 2.98 |
| Massachusetts | $39,760 | $37,210 | $54,820 | 910 | 1.23 |
| Michigan | $36,420 | $30,730 | $39,680 | 3,060 | 3.43 |
| Minnesota | $47,610 | $42,900 | $63,670 | 170 | 0.28 |
| Mississippi | $28,690 | $22,990 | $37,790 | 120 | 0.49 |
| Missouri | $36,100 | $29,560 | $43,510 | 290 | 0.49 |
| Montana | $40,040 | $37,060 | $47,790 | 100 | 1 |
| Nebraska | $37,760 | $36,170 | $47,090 | 100 | 0.47 |
| Nevada | $37,630 | $32,390 | $48,340 | 370 | 1.16 |
| New Hampshire | $41,830 | $34,890 | $50,360 | 230 | 1.63 |
| New Jersey | $40,530 | $36,640 | $57,980 | 400 | 0.46 |
| New Mexico | $37,580 | $35,820 | $43,030 | 100 | 0.58 |
| New York | $50,420 | $35,620 | $64,950 | 1,580 | 0.8 |
| North Carolina | $31,010 | $25,340 | $41,260 | 1,300 | 1.3 |
| North Dakota | $35,890 | $28,110 | $38,900 | 90 | 0.98 |
| Ohio | $41,380 | $31,570 | $58,170 | 660 | 0.59 |
| Oklahoma | $38,840 | $30,490 | $44,020 | 130 | 0.39 |
| Oregon | $54,670 | $43,580 | $61,990 | 60 | 0.15 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,090 | $29,810 | $45,360 | 2,300 | 1.87 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,960 | $21,840 | $26,520 | ||
| Rhode Island | $39,400 | $35,930 | $48,670 | 50 | 0.48 |
| South Carolina | $36,770 | $27,630 | $39,080 | 450 | 0.95 |
| Tennessee | Data unavailable | 230 | 0.35 | ||
| Texas | $30,280 | $23,940 | $47,800 | 1,360 | 0.48 |
| Utah | $40,580 | $34,340 | $50,000 | 890 | 2.52 |
| Virginia | $38,790 | $27,870 | $47,530 | 460 | 0.55 |
| Washington | $47,000 | $41,820 | $62,030 | 290 | 0.4 |
| West Virginia | $35,210 | $26,450 | $37,100 | 260 | 1.84 |
| Wisconsin | $38,750 | $33,640 | $45,770 | 410 | 0.69 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for dietetic technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.4%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for dietetic technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General CIP 19.0501
- Nutrition Sciences CIP 30.1901
- Dietetics/Dietitian CIP 51.3101
- Dietetic Technician CIP 51.3103
- Dietitian Assistant CIP 51.3104
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Observe and monitor patient food intake and body weight, and report changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.
- Conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals' dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
- Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
- Supervise food production or service or assist dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning.
- Plan menus or diets or guide individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
- Develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.
- Attend interdisciplinary meetings with other health care professionals to discuss patient care.
- Provide dietitians with assistance researching food, nutrition, or food service systems.
Technology skills
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Appointment scheduling software
- Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
- CBORD Nutrition Service Suite
- Computrition Nutrition Care Management NCM Select
- CyberSoft NutriBase
- Cybersoft Primero Software Suite
- DietMaster Systems Clinical Nutrition
- ESHA Research The Food Processor
- Food Service Solutions FoodCo
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination.
Common job titles: Cook Chill Technician (CCT), Diet Assistant, Diet Clerk, Diet Tech (Diet Technician), Diet Tech (Dietetic Technician), Diet Technician Registered (DTR), Dietary Aide, Dietetic Assistant, Dietetic Technician Registered (DTR), Nutrition Technician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do dietetic technicians make?
The national median annual wage for dietetic technicians was $37,640 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $29,720 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $54,020. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do dietetic technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is dietetic technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of dietetic technicians to change +2.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay dietetic technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oregon ($54,670), New York ($50,420), Colorado ($47,810). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.