Dietetic Technicians: Salary Overview
Dietetic technicians typically work under the supervision of a dietitian and assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs.
Their job description involves planning and producing meals based on established guidelines.
They may also teach people about food and nutrition and advise them on what to consume.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for this profession was $28,400 as of May 2019 which means that half of all workers in this occupation earned less than this amount and half earned more.
This is lower than the average for all professions in the United States- which was $39,810 in 2019.
Salaries, however, vary depending on many factors, including experience and education level, the industry, and the region of employment.
The lowest 10 percent made less than $20,910 per year while the top 10 percent made more than $47,040.
Dietetic Technician Salary by Industry
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the biggest employers for dietetic technicians in May 2019 were general medical and surgical hospitals, nursing care facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and local governments.
The average annual wage reported by dietetic technicians who worked for general medical and surgical hospitals was $33,780 as of May 2019.
Dietetic technicians who worked for nursing care facilities reportedly earned $28,070 per year on average, while those employed by continuing care retirements communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly reportedly made $25,800 per year on average.
The mean annual wage was $34,480 for dietetic technicians employed by local governments and $33,690 for those who worked for specialty hospitals.
The report published by BLS shows that the highest-paying field for this profession is the industry of grantmaking and giving services where the average annual wage was $41,670 as of May 2019.
The second-highest average annual salary was reported by dietetic technicians who worked for colleges, universities, and professional schools- an industry where the average annual wage for this profession was $38,940 in May 2019.
These higher-paying fields hire only a few dietetic technicians so we are safe to say that job opening may not occur very often in these sectors.
Salaries for this profession also vary depending on the worker’s experience and education level.
Entry-level employees typically earn a salary that is close to the minimum for this profession but their earnings increase after a few years of experience.
Education is another way to improve earnings as a dietetic technician.
Those who hold a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, food, and nutrition, or a related field can apply for licensure in their state to become dietitians- a profession with a median annual wage of $61,270.
Salaries for dietetics technicians also vary depending on the region and the state of employment.
The numbers published by BLS show that in 2019 the top paying states for this profession were Oregon, Rhode Island, and Alaska where the average annual wages were $46,280, $45,140, and $41,340 respectively.
Dietetics technicians in Tennessee and Montana, on the other hand, earned less than $25,000 per year on average.
In conclusion, the dietetic technician profession is not very well remunerated and many workers in this profession earn less than the national average.
However, as with almost any occupation, if you’re a hard-working individual who’s willing to learn new skills and to gain new qualifications you can earn a decent living by practicing this profession or you can even advance to a profession that is better-remunerated.
Salaries also vary depending on the local economy and relocating to a region that offers higher salaries for this profession may help improve your earning prospects.
* Based on information from the May 2024 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Dietetic Technicians. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.