How Much Money Nutritionist Make

How much do Nutritionists make?

Average Salary and Wage for Nutritionists/Dietetic Technician

A variety of career options and choices exist within the field of nutrition and dietetics. Here, we will explore salary information for two of those categories: Registered Dietitians/Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, and Dietetic Technician, Registered/Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered.

Salary Information for Registered Dietitians and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor, as of May 2019, the annual mean wage for dietitians and nutritionists across the nation was $62,330. For those on an hourly wage, the mean hourly wage for dietitians and nutritionists was $29.97. The BLS does not break down dietitian and nutritionist salary statistics into registered and non-registered or licensed and non-licensed categories, so it is impossible to know how much licensed vs. non-licensed nutritionists make. On the whole, however, having credentials generally increases a dietitian/nutritionist's salary. Experience increases salaries as well. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, salaries for dietitians and nutritionists with more years of experience as well as additional certifications range from $98,500 to $137,400. Indeed, even the BLS notes that those working in the 75th percentile earned mean annual wages of $74,900, while those in the 90th percentile made $87,360 annually.

Career Demand for Registered Dietitians and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists

The BLS projects that between 2019 and 2029, job opportunities for dietitians and nutritionists will increase by eight percent, faster than the average expected increase across all occupations. An additional 5900 jobs for dietitians and nutritionists are expected to be added nationwide during that time. It is projected that more dietitians and nutritionists will be needed to provide care for patients with medical conditions, the elderly, and the increasing number of people who want to improve overall health and wellness is driving up the number of people that want to know how to become a nutritionist.

Top-Paying Industries for Registered Dietitians and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists

The salary of a dietitian and nutritionist is also impacted by the industry in which they work. The BLS noted that as of May 2019, the following industries paid the highest annual mean wages to dietitians and nutritionists working within them:

Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods: $84,770
Federal Executive Branch: $72,990
Home Health Care Services: $70,650
Wholesale Electronic Markets, Agents and Brokers: $70,250
Scientific Research and Development Services: $70,200

Top-Paying Locations for Registered Dietitians and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists

Another variable that impacts the salary of a dietitian and nutritionist is geographic location, or where one works.

States Paying Higher Wages to Dietitians and Nutritionists

Certain states and metropolitan areas have been recorded as paying higher than average salaries to dietitians and nutritionists. Per the BLS, as of May 2019, the top-paying states in which dietitians and nutritionists work are:

California: $77,040
Alaska: $72,640
Massachusetts: $72,610
Hawaii: $71,230
New Jersey: $70,550

Cities Paying Higher Wages to Dietitians and Nutritionists

The following metropolitan areas of the U.S. paid dietitians and nutritionists the highest salaries as of May 2019:

Vallejo-Fairfield, CA: $88,350
Salinas, CA: $87,930
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $87,890
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: $85,910
Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA: $85,080
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA: $84,160
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $83,870
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL: $79,630
Napa, CA: $79,470
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI: $77,510

Nonmetropolitan Areas Paying Higher Wages to Dietitians and Nutritionists

As nonmetropolitan areas may have lower population densities than major cities, it is expected that these areas would pay dietitians and nutritionists lower salaries. However, there are some nonmetropolitan areas that do pay greater than average wages to dietitians and nutritionists. They include:

South Florida: $111,920
Alaska: $84,840
North Coast Region of California: $81,930
North Valley-Northern Mountain Region of CA: $76,110
Massachusetts: $71,330

Salary Information for Dietetic Technicians, Registered and Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered

Another category of careers in nutrition and dietetics are Dietetic Technicians, Registered or DTRs (also called Nutrition and Dietetic Technicians, Registered or NDTRs). These food and nutrition professionals assist in providing food service and nutritional programs, working under the supervision of a registered dietitian/registered dietitian nutritionist. Per the BLS, the mean annual wage for DTRs and NDTRs as of May 2019 was $31,180. Those working on an hourly basis earned $14.99 per hour. DTRs and NDTRs earning in the 75th percentile made $36,360 annually; while those in the 90th percentile made $47,040 per year.

Career Demand for Dietetic Technicians, Registered and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered

The U.S. Department of Labor expects a six percent increase in job opportunities for dietetic technicians between 2018 and 2028. About 3100 jobs per year are expected to be produced. In 2018, there were 34,800 DTRs in the U.S. By 2028, it is projected that there will be 36,900 DTRs employed in the U.S. As more people are concerned with the way that eating affects their health and overall wellness, jobs for dietetic technicians are expected to increase.

Top-Paying Industries for Dietetic Technicians, Registered and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered

Certain industries pay their dietetic technicians higher than average salaries. According to the BLS, as of May 2019, those industries are:

Grantmaking and Giving Services: $41,670
Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools: $38,940
Outpatient Care Centers: $38,050
State Government (excluding schools//hospitals): $37,930
Management of Companies and Enterprises: $37,630

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

The BLS notes that dietetic technicians made the highest salaries in the following states as of May 2019:

Oregon: $46,280
Rhode Island: $45,140
Alaska: $41,340
New York: $41,130
Washington: $40,950

Cities Paying Higher Wages to Dietetic Technicians, Registered and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered

Dietetic technicians make higher than average wages within the following metropolitan areas ,as of May 2019, per the BLS:

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN: $52,880
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro OR-WA: $45,910
Salinas, CA: $44,730
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA: $43,010
Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA: $42,910
Stockton-Lodi, CA: $42,710
New York-Newark-Jersey City NJ-NY-PA: $41,520
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY: $41,300
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: $41,090
Syracuse, NY: $40,690

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, based on lower population density. However, these areas paid dietetic technicians higher than average wages as of May 2019:

North Coast Region of CA: $41,030
Capital/Northern NY: $40,600
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode region of CA: $33,040
East North Dakota: $33,010
Northern Vermont: $32,250

Sources

Dietetic Technicians." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292051.htm.
Dietitians and Nutritionists." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291031.htm.
Dietitians and Nutritionists." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm?view_full.