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Nutritionists and dieticians assist people by empowering them to make healthy dietary choices. These two career paths somewhat diverge regarding the skills and qualifications each requires.
A dietician must be certified to practice in their field. This certification is awarded by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Training to become a nutritionist often varies by state; not all states require certification to practice as a nutritionist. Nutritionists may also seek out additional training to qualify to practice in specific subject areas, such as sports nutrition, as well as health issues, such as digestive and autoimmune disorders.
Dieticians may pursue a variety of career paths within their industry and thereby work with a large variety of populations. Discerning what typical tasks or client populations one prefers prior to or during training can improve the prospects of a dietician ultimately choosing a suitable and enjoyable career path.
The pathway a dietician chooses determines the tasks they typically perform. Such tasks may include nutritional needs assessments, meal planning, food services management, personnel hiring, and oversight of safety and sanitation. Dieticians may work in a diverse array of settings, including hospitals, nursing care facilities, correctional facilities, health clinics, fitness centers, schools, and corporate environments. The option to establish a private practice may prove alluring to still others considering this profession.
The need for dieticians and nutritionists is forecast to be robust through the end of the year and into the future. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2025) predicts a 6 percent increase in openings nationally between 2024 and 2034, which is double the national average for all occupations (3 percent). Investing in a career in this profession thus offers a significant opportunity. The high demand for this job field is attributable to several factors, including the aging of the American population, high rates of varied health issues within the populace, and the vital role that nutrition plays in the wellness of people regardless of their particular backgrounds.
Below appears an overview of average salaries earned by dieticians and nutritionists. The data is organized according to various categories, including by state, metropolitan region, industry, and employment level.
Dietician and Nutritionist Salary Overall
Dieticians and nutritionists earn more than the national average for all occupations, which the BLS (May 2024) lists at $67,920 per year or $32.66 per hour. The 76,570 dieticians and nutritionists nationally earned an average of $74,770.
Levels of education and years of experience are influential factors to consider over a career’s lifetime. According to the latest available data as of March 2026, the BLS (May 2024) breaks down dietician and nutritionist salary percentiles as follows:
- 10th percentile: $48,830 or $23.48 per hour
- 25th percentile: $61,260 or $29.45 per hour
- 50th percentile (median): $73,850 or $35.50 per hour
- 75th percentile: $85,200 or $40.96 per hour
- 90th percentile: $101,760 or $48.92 per hour
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does report quality data, individuals interested in a career as a dietician or nutritionist may wish to consult our salary data sources to ensure they undertake an informed job search.
As with any profession, it is critical to set reasonable salary expectations when seeking work as a dietician or nutritionist. This page is designed to be a guide for your job search. When reviewing job openings in a given market, applicants should keep several criteria in mind to make an informed choice. These criteria include job duties, required experience and education, opportunities for advancement, employer culture, geographic location, salary, and the associated cost of living.
Dietician and Nutritionist Salary by Region
In many professions, the location in which one works is a prominent determinant of salary. When considering the relative value of a job offer, the salary should be compared against the cost of living in that region of the country. Dollars earned in a state with a higher cost of living (such as the western and eastern coastal states) will effectively have less purchasing power than dollars earned in a state with a lower cost of living (such as the states located in the southern, central, and midwestern regions).
Below is a sample of states and the average salaries for the job series Dieticians and Nutritionists, as noted in statistics from the BLS (May 2024). This sample is designed to demonstrate the regional differences often found in average salaries:
- California – $94,390 annual average or $45.38 per hour
- Oregon – $86,800 or $41.73 per hour
- Connecticut – $85,190 or $40.96 per hour
- Alaska – $84,150 or $40.46 per hour
- Maryland – $84,080 or $40.42 per hour
- New Jersey – $83,080 or $39.94 per hour
- Massachusetts – $82,380 or $39.61 per hour
- Washington – $81,140 or $39.01 per hour
- New York – $80,500 or $38.70 per hour
This salary data alone is insufficient to determine what quality of life a person can enjoy within that state. To better assess that the cost of living must be considered.
The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2026) compiles the cost of living for each state. One may also compare the cost of living in various cities at Best Places (2026).
Salary is not the only factor that varies across the nation. The volume of employment opportunities also varies. Below is a list of statistics provided by the BLS (May 2024) indicating the number of dieticians and nutritionists employed, by state, ranked highest to lowest, as follows:
- California: 9,630 employed; earning $94,390 per year or $45.38 per hour
- Texas: 6,900 employed; $67,100 or $32.26
- New York: 5,500 employed; $80,500 or $38.70
- Florida: 4,800 employed; $70,180 or $33.74
- Pennsylvania: 4,040 employed; $68,810 or $33.08
- North Carolina: 2,620 employed; $66,540 or $31.99
- New Jersey: 2,450 employed; $83,080 or $39.94
- Illinois: 2,420 employed; $69,570 or $33.45
- Ohio: 2,290 employed: $69,970 or $33.64
Salaries vary not just between states but also within each state’s geography. Metropolitan areas are well-known for offering high convenience and services to their residents. In general, larger cities and their surrounding regions pay higher salaries to match higher living costs in higher-density areas.
Below are some average annual salaries for dieticians and nutritionists in large metropolitan areas in the U.S., highest to lowest as per the BLS 2023, the latest data available as of March 2026:
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA: $110,810 annual average
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $103,670
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $103,050
- Modesto, CA: $101,100
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: $99,590
- Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA: $97,500
- Napa, CA: $95,130
- Salinas, CA: $91,940
- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA: $91,700
- Santa Rosa, CA: $89,830
As it happens, the highest salaries are all in California, which is also the third most expensive state in which to live.
Metropolitan areas with the largest number of dieticians and nutritionists employed, as per the BLS 2023, the latest data available March 2026:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: 5,180 employed, $84,310 (annual average)
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 4,460 employed, $73,280
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: 1,870 employed, $69,910
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI: 1,860 employed, $65,200
- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH: 1,740 employed, $77,190
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL: 1,290 employed, $70,940
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 1,210 employed, $72,150
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX: 1,180 employed, $66,670
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: 1,180 employed, $103,050
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: 1,150 employed, $81,520
ZipRecruiter (March 2026) reports the following as the ten highest-paying cities for dieticians and nutritionists:
- Nome, AK: $67,157 annual salary
- Newport Beach, CA: $66,541
- Berkeley, CA: $66,287
- Pennington County, SD: $65,456
- Sitka, AK: $65,218
- Santa Clara, CA: $63,580
- Sunnyvale, CA: $63,538
- Port Angeles, WA: $63,535
- Livermore, CA: $63,502
- San Jose, CA: $63,448
ZipRecruiter also has a search function, whereby an individual can enter the city of their choice and discover the annual salaries.
Dietician and Nutritionist Salary by Type of Office
When seeking employment, the type of industry one works in will also impact the salary. Dieticians and nutritionists typically possess the skills to work in a large number of settings. These different employment possibilities each offer different salary ranges.
As per the BLS 2025, dieticians and nutritionists are typically employed as follows:
- Hospitals: state, local, and private: 26 percent
- Self-employed workers: 12 percent
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals: 11 percent
- Nursing and residential care facilities: 9 percent
- Outpatient care centers: 7 percent
Most are employed full-time. As clients are not always available during normal business hours, some dieticians and nutritionists may work evenings and weekends.
