Dietitian | Salary & Job Information

Becoming a Dietitian via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Kaplan University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering nutrition courses to train individuals to become top-notch nutritional scientists, nutritionists, holistic nutritionists, animal nutritionists, nutrient management specialists, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 53,220 people employed as dietitians and nutritionists alone in America, and their average annual salary is $53,230. Dietetic technicians make on average $28,530 per year and there are about 24,510 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Kaplan University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Dietitian
  • hospitals
  • clinics
  • high schools
  • middle schools
  • elementary schools
  • dietitian offices
  • rehab clinics
  • nursing homes
  • healthcare facilities
  • research facilities
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Dietitian
  • works in hospital
  • works in private home
  • works in nursing home
  • works regular hours
  • works strange hours
  • controls diabetic patients
  • control celiac patients
  • controls low salt patients
  • controls patient food allotment
  • controls patient care
Potential Drawbacks
  • challenging to motivating patients to change their behavior
  • skilled in interpersonal communication
  • outcome is dependent on the person
  • identify patients in need of nutrition counseling and intervention
  • interaction with physicians nurses and pharmacists
  • skilled at calculation of patients' nutrition requirements
  • develop a care plan that is individualized to each patient's injury and medical condition
  • need to have empathy for patients
  • need to be a team player
  • identify patients at risk for nutrient deficiencies
Related Professions to Consider
  • Nutritionist
  • Hospice Director
  • Front Office Executive
  • Fitness Trainer
  • Regional Consultant Dietitian
  • Registered Dietitian
  • Clinical Dietitian
  • Consultant
  • Administrative Dietitian
  • Per Diem Dietitian
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Dietitian
  • What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
  • What do you know about this organization?
  • What do co-workers say about you?
  • Do you consider yourself successful?
  • What experience do you have in this field?
  • Why did you leave your last job?
  • Tell me about yourself.?
  • What is the biggest challenge that you have ever experienced in your current position?
  • What are your greatest achievements so far?
  • Are you willing to work overtime Nights Weekends?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Doctor
  • Nurse
  • Physician
  • Personal Trainer
  • Assistant
  • Executive Assistant
  • Life Coach
  • Pediatrician
  • Dentist
  • Psychiatrist
Dietitian Training books Dietitian (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Foods Nutrition and Wellness Studies General
  • Dietetics/Dietitian (RD) Dietetics/Dietitian (RD) Dietetics/Dietitian (RD)
  • Dietetic Technician (DTR)
  • Dietitian Assistant
  • Human Nutrition
  • Foodservice Systems Administration/Management Foodservice Systems Administration/Management Foodservice Systems Administration/Management Foodservice Systems Administration/Management
  • Nutrition Sciences
  • Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist
  • Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Other
  • Foods Nutrition and Related Services Other

Dietitian Salary Information

Category: Dietitians and nutritionists

Total # Employed in the US 53,220
Average Hourly Wage: $25.59/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15.98 $20.39 $25.07 $30.51 $35.91
Average Yearly Salary $53,230
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$33,230 $42,400 $52,150 $63,460 $74,690
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
4.7% 15.0% 8.8% 5.4% 36.2% 24.8% 5.1%
Dietitians and nutritionists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Mississippi $31.06/hr $64,600
New York $30.7/hr $63,860
Colorado $30.58/hr $63,610
Indiana $30.17/hr $62,750
Delaware $29.69/hr $61,750
North Dakota $29.62/hr $61,600
Virginia $28.11/hr $58,460
Tennessee $27.6/hr $57,410
Missouri $27.45/hr $57,090
Ohio $27.03/hr $56,230
Oklahoma $26.69/hr $55,520
District of Columbia $26.53/hr $55,170
North Carolina $26.38/hr $54,880
Guam $26.33/hr $54,760
Alaska $26.22/hr $54,540
Hawaii $25.94/hr $53,950
Nebraska $25.75/hr $53,570
Michigan $25.66/hr $53,370
Montana $25.44/hr $52,910
Wyoming $25.19/hr $52,380
South Carolina $24.68/hr $51,340
Puerto Rico $24.66/hr $51,300
Kansas $24.56/hr $51,070
Washington $24.14/hr $50,200
Louisiana $24.07/hr $50,060
Connecticut $24.04/hr $49,990
Maryland $23.77/hr $49,450
Utah $23.7/hr $49,290
Iowa $23.66/hr $49,220
Oregon $23.6/hr $49,100
California $23.57/hr $49,020
West Virginia $23.44/hr $48,750
Wisconsin $23.36/hr $48,590
Maine $23.27/hr $48,410
New Mexico $23.16/hr $48,180
Pennsylvania $23.03/hr $47,910
Kentucky $22.95/hr $47,740
Florida $22.93/hr $47,690
Alabama $22.93/hr $47,700
Arkansas $22.06/hr $45,880
New Jersey $21.77/hr $45,280
Massachusetts $21.43/hr $44,560
New Hampshire $21.27/hr $44,240
South Dakota $20.94/hr $43,550
Nevada $20.71/hr $43,080
Idaho $20.66/hr $42,970


Category: Dietetic technicians

Total # Employed in the US 24,510
Average Hourly Wage: $13.72/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.52 $10.13 $12.98 $16.69 $20.07
Average Yearly Salary $28,530
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$17,720 $21,070 $26,990 $34,710 $41,760
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.5% 27.8% 34.1% 19.0% 14.1% 1.4% 1.1%
Dietetic technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Nebraska $18.07/hr $37,580
Mississippi $17.85/hr $37,130
South Carolina $17.5/hr $36,400
Delaware $16.98/hr $35,310
Oklahoma $16.59/hr $34,500
Virginia $16.33/hr $33,960
New York $16.21/hr $33,720
North Carolina $15.69/hr $32,640
Colorado $15.42/hr $32,070
North Dakota $15.42/hr $32,080
Hawaii $14.7/hr $30,580
Montana $13.93/hr $28,960
Indiana $13.84/hr $28,780
Michigan $13.76/hr $28,610
Utah $13.72/hr $28,540
Missouri $13.64/hr $28,370
New Jersey $13.33/hr $27,740
Alabama $13.23/hr $27,510
Kansas $13.11/hr $27,270
District of Columbia $13.06/hr $27,160
New Hampshire $12.93/hr $26,880
Puerto Rico $12.86/hr $26,740
Iowa $12.52/hr $26,040
Guam $12.36/hr $25,710
Oregon $12.33/hr $25,650
Kentucky $12.15/hr $25,260
Ohio $12.12/hr $25,220
New Mexico $12.03/hr $25,020
Maryland $11.94/hr $24,840
Wyoming $11.76/hr $24,470
Tennessee $11.64/hr $24,200
California $11.59/hr $24,110
Idaho $11.46/hr $23,840
Washington $11.36/hr $23,620
South Dakota $11.36/hr $23,630
Pennsylvania $11.33/hr $23,560
Wisconsin $11.29/hr $23,490
Arkansas $11.08/hr $23,050
Massachusetts $10.96/hr $22,800
Louisiana $10.77/hr $22,400
Connecticut $10.76/hr $22,380
Maine $10.74/hr $22,340
Nevada $10.37/hr $21,560


Nutrition Programs by State & City