Dietitians and nutritionists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Mean (average) | $77,130 | $37.08 |
| 90th percentile | $103,720 | $49.87 |
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
Dietitians and nutritionists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $66,190 | $50,970 | $87,450 | 780 | 0.74 |
| Alaska | $87,980 | $70,100 | $105,970 | 130 | 0.82 |
| Arizona | $64,410 | $43,150 | $92,370 | 1,800 | 1.11 |
| Arkansas | $65,540 | $44,700 | $174,060 | 650 | 1 |
| California | $98,850 | $72,780 | $130,850 | 8,720 | 0.96 |
| Colorado | $75,510 | $59,840 | $114,350 | 1,640 | 1.14 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 | $61,570 | $100,140 | 860 | 1.01 |
| Delaware | $78,060 | $57,810 | $111,600 | 290 | 1.19 |
| District of Columbia | $82,150 | $50,010 | $111,530 | 270 | 0.78 |
| Florida | $76,050 | $49,920 | $93,530 | 4,370 | 0.88 |
| Georgia | $73,200 | $47,250 | $96,430 | 2,020 | 0.83 |
| Guam | $60,260 | $33,570 | $86,140 | 40 | 1.16 |
| Hawaii | $81,920 | $65,330 | $100,610 | 370 | 1.19 |
| Idaho | $71,610 | $47,870 | $87,780 | 420 | 0.98 |
| Illinois | $73,520 | $51,330 | $115,190 | 2,840 | 0.93 |
| Indiana | $66,450 | $43,050 | $84,320 | 1,670 | 1.05 |
| Iowa | $72,690 | $50,720 | $92,940 | 630 | 0.81 |
| Kansas | $66,830 | $56,320 | $90,310 | 580 | 0.81 |
| Kentucky | $69,520 | $31,820 | $89,710 | 1,040 | 1.04 |
| Louisiana | $70,460 | $49,230 | $91,560 | 800 | 0.83 |
| Maine | $64,610 | $35,360 | $129,180 | 510 | 1.6 |
| Maryland | $77,800 | $61,470 | $100,900 | 1,430 | 1.04 |
| Massachusetts | $76,660 | $63,310 | $107,150 | 2,860 | 1.58 |
| Michigan | $66,850 | $48,420 | $84,530 | 2,370 | 1.08 |
| Minnesota | $77,540 | $62,660 | $94,580 | 1,180 | 0.8 |
| Mississippi | $63,700 | $42,810 | $86,260 | 540 | 0.94 |
| Missouri | $65,450 | $43,980 | $85,900 | 1,700 | 1.16 |
| Montana | $71,580 | $60,280 | $90,740 | 230 | 0.9 |
| Nebraska | $70,160 | $57,340 | $89,550 | 570 | 1.12 |
| Nevada | $69,030 | $35,820 | $101,400 | 560 | 0.72 |
| New Hampshire | $71,840 | $33,280 | $92,810 | 440 | 1.28 |
| New Jersey | $84,450 | $62,670 | $114,400 | 2,870 | 1.34 |
| New Mexico | $74,730 | $56,260 | $91,660 | 500 | 1.16 |
| New York | $82,480 | $62,100 | $105,830 | 5,330 | 1.1 |
| North Carolina | $67,560 | $48,910 | $88,860 | 2,780 | 1.13 |
| North Dakota | $70,040 | $59,860 | $86,260 | 270 | 1.28 |
| Ohio | $69,530 | $36,970 | $91,820 | 3,060 | 1.1 |
| Oklahoma | $69,560 | $39,580 | $86,990 | 1,230 | 1.45 |
| Oregon | $84,180 | $65,400 | $105,020 | 700 | 0.71 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,410 | $43,370 | $92,150 | 4,270 | 1.41 |
| Puerto Rico | $47,210 | $35,540 | $75,770 | 560 | 1.19 |
| Rhode Island | $71,300 | $51,060 | $100,770 | 360 | 1.44 |
| South Carolina | $69,970 | $40,630 | $95,020 | 950 | 0.82 |
| South Dakota | $64,890 | $50,260 | $88,710 | 210 | 0.91 |
| Tennessee | $67,620 | $40,860 | $90,200 | 1,230 | 0.75 |
| Texas | $74,440 | $40,040 | $98,960 | 5,320 | 0.76 |
| Utah | $65,310 | $35,860 | $99,770 | 1,120 | 1.29 |
| Vermont | $77,450 | $61,960 | $102,500 | 160 | 1.04 |
| Virginia | $77,380 | $44,940 | $103,130 | 1,510 | 0.74 |
| Washington | $84,220 | $62,100 | $108,010 | 1,450 | 0.82 |
| West Virginia | $89,440 | $55,350 | $103,130 | 520 | 1.47 |
| Wisconsin | $74,930 | $58,040 | $91,520 | 1,330 | 0.9 |
| Wyoming | $64,370 | $42,770 | $100,930 | 120 | 0.85 |
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 dietitians and nutritionists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 8.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for dietitians and nutritionists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law 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
- Human Nutrition CIP 19.0504
- Foodservice Systems Administration/Management CIP 19.0505
- Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other CIP 19.0599
- Nutrition Sciences CIP 30.1901
- Dietetics/Dietitian CIP 51.3101
- Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist CIP 51.3102
- Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Other CIP 51.3199
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions, and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling.
- Evaluate laboratory tests in preparing nutrition recommendations.
- Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.
- Advise patients and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans, diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.
- Incorporate patient cultural, ethnic, or religious preferences and needs in the development of nutrition plans.
- Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client.
- Record and evaluate patient and family health and food history, including symptoms, environmental toxic exposure, allergies, medication factors, and preventive health-care measures.
- Develop recipes and menus to address special nutrition needs, such as low glycemic, low histamine, or gluten- or allergen-free.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Allergenic diet software
- Aurora FoodPro
- Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
- BioEx Systems Nutrition Maker Plus
- Compu-Cal Nutrition Assistant
- Cronometer
- CyberSoft NutriBase
- Database software
- DietMaster Systems DietMaster
- ESHA Research The Food Processor
- Google Drive
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Instructing.
Common job titles: Clinical Dietician, Clinical Dietitian, Clinical Nutritionist, Dietitian, Nutritionist, Oncology Dietitian, Outpatient Dietitian, Registered Dietician, Registered Dietitian, Renal Dietitian.
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 dietitians and nutritionists make?
The national median annual wage for dietitians and nutritionists was $76,400 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $49,090 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $103,720. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do dietitians and nutritionists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is dietitians and nutritionists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of dietitians and nutritionists to change +7.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay dietitians and nutritionists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($98,850), West Virginia ($89,440), Alaska ($87,980). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.