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Dietitian Salary in the United States

How much does a Dietitian make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Dietitian in the United States is $64,781 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, a Dietitian's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,855
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,665 to $71,101
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,007
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Dietitian Salaries

A Dietitian's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Dietitian Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Dietitian's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Dietitian (2-4 years): $64,781
  • Dietitian Supervisor (4+ years): $56,003
  • Dietitian Manager (4-5 years): $83,703
  • Dietitian Director (5+ years): $102,362
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Dietitian2-4 years$64,781
Dietitian Supervisor4+ years$56,003
Dietitian Manager4-5 years$83,703
Dietitian Director5+ years$102,362
View as Graph

How Do Dietitians Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Dietitians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $71,726.
  • California: $71,453.
  • Massachusetts: $70,501.

Top Paying Cities for Dietitian

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $81,708
  • San Francisco: $80,814
  • Oakland: $79,111

What Skills Can Increase a Dietitian's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 4.46% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Patient Care (Mentioned in 3.85% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
  • Geriatrics (Mentioned in 1.71% Job Postings): Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty focused on providing care for the unique health needs of older adults. The term geriatrics originates from the Greek geron meaning "old man", and iatros meaning "healer".
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 4.46%
Patient Care 3.85%
Geriatrics 1.71%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Dietitian's salary.

  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Healthcare Services: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight $68,668
6%
Healthcare Services $68,668
6%
Problem Solving $67,372
4%
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Dietitian Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Dietitian salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $69,072. While startup companies pay approximate $58,763.

Dietitian Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $58,763
Growth Stage 51~500 $62,062
Established 501~5000 $66,787
Enterprise 5000+ $69,072

Dietitian Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Dietitian roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Dietitian positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Dietitian as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Dietitian

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$77,737$37.020%

How Education impacts an Dietitian's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Dietitian enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Dietitian with a Bachelor's Degree is between $67,524 and $71,327.

Dietitian Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Dietitian
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 1.0%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 50.3%
Masters 44.8%
Doctorate 2.3%
View as Graph

Dietitian Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Dietitian's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$59,665
Average $64,781/year
$71,101
$4,972
Average $5,398/month
$5,925
$1,147
Average $1,246/week
$1,367
$29
Average $31/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,101 $5,925 $1,367 $34
Average $64,781 $5,398 $1,246 $31
25th Percentile $59,665 $4,972 $1,147 $29

Dietitian Salary Growth & Career Path

Dietitian

Next Role

Advancement

For a Dietitian, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Dietitian Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $56,003 - a projected growth of -14% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Dietitian

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Dietitian

Here are companies hiring for Dietitian and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Dietitian

1. Where can a Dietitian earn the most?

A Dietitian's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Dietitian earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Dietitian is $81,708.

2. What is the highest pay for Dietitian?

The highest pay for Dietitian is $76,855.

3. What is the lowest pay for Dietitian?

The lowest pay for Dietitian is $55,007.

4. What are the responsibilities of Dietitian?

Designs and implements nutritional care plans for patients utilizing general dietetic standards and regulations. Monitors and documents patient progress and consults with physicians as needed. Evaluates effectiveness of the care plan and communicates to the other members of the healthcare team to provide optimal nutrition outcomes. Educates and provides guidance to staff, patients, and families regarding diet and food plans. Administers and advises food service operations to ensure menus comply with prescribed nutritional plans. Requires a bachelor's degree in clinical nutrition, dietetics, or related degree. Requires Registered Dietitian (RD). May require Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). May require State License to Practice. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Dietitian?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Dietitian roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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