Dietitians and Nutritionists Career, Salary and Skills
Dietitians and Nutritionists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $76,400 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 77,570. Wage data is published for 333 locations.
Occupation description
Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.
O*NET code
29-1031.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$76,400
Hourly median
$36.73
Employment
77,570
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Writing | 3.88 | 4.25 |
| Service Orientation | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 4.12 |
Typical tasks
- Evaluate laboratory tests in preparing nutrition recommendations.
- Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.
- Advise patients and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans, diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.
- Incorporate patient cultural, ethnic, or religious preferences and needs in the development of nutrition plans.
- Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client.
- Record and evaluate patient and family health and food history, including symptoms, environmental toxic exposure, allergies, medication factors, and preventive health-care measures.
- Develop recipes and menus to address special nutrition needs, such as low glycemic, low histamine, or gluten- or allergen-free.
- Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions, and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling.
Technology
- Allergenic diet software
- Aurora FoodPro
- Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
- BioEx Systems Nutrition Maker Plus
- Compu-Cal Nutrition Assistant
- Cronometer
- CyberSoft NutriBase
- Database software
- DietMaster Systems DietMaster
- ESHA Research The Food Processor
- Google Drive
- Graphics software
- Ketogenic planning software
- Lifestyles Technologies DietMaster Pro
Dietitians and Nutritionists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in CAMedian $98,850 · Employment 8,720
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in New York, NYMedian $86,690 · Employment 5,490
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in NYMedian $82,480 · Employment 5,330
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in TXMedian $74,440 · Employment 5,320
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in FLMedian $76,050 · Employment 4,370
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in PAMedian $67,410 · Employment 4,270
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $95,450 · Employment 3,060
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in OHMedian $69,530 · Employment 3,060
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in NJMedian $84,450 · Employment 2,870
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in MAMedian $76,660 · Employment 2,860
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in ILMedian $73,520 · Employment 2,840
- Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary in NCMedian $67,560 · Employment 2,780
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.