How Much Do Nutritionists Make?
There are many options when it comes to nutrition careers. You could choose to get a master’s degree and become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). You could opt to get your associate’s or bachelor’s degree and become a Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR). Other career titles available to those with nutrition education include Holistic Nutritionist, Sports Nutritionist, Dietary Manager, Food Coach, Nutrition Counselor, and Certified Nutrition Specialist.
Because the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups all types of nutritionists, both licensed and unlicensed, into a category that includes registered dietitian nutritionists, it is difficult to gather information on salaries for unlicensed or uncertified nutrition professions. The BLS does, however, maintain salary statistics for the nutrition careers Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR).
Salaries for RDNs
The BLS reports that, circa May 2022, the mean annual wage for nutritionists and dietitians nationwide is $69,350, translating to a mean hourly wage of $33.34. Those earning in the 75th percentile make $80,430 annually, or $38.67 hourly; while those earning in the 90th percentile make $95,130 per year, or $45.74 per hour.
In its Compensation and Benefits Survey 2021, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) notes that additional education, experience and certifications tend to raise nutritionists’ and dietitians’ salaries. Those holding a doctoral degree, for example, tend to earn more than $15 per hour above what a RDN holding a bachelor’s degree currently earns (keep in mind that many of today’s RDNs hold a bachelor’s degree, which differs from the new requirement of the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) as of January 1, 2024, that all RDNs must have a master’s degree).
Holding additional specialty certifications also raises RDN salaries. Per the AND survey, the following salaries correlated with specialty certifications that RDNs may hold:
| CERTIFICATION | MEAN HOURLY WAGE | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management (CSOWM) | $37.25 | $77,480 |
| Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) | $37.45 | $77,896 |
| Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) | $39.04 | $81,203.20 |
Members of the Academy also tend to earn higher salaries than non-members, making an average of $0.20 cents per hour more.
RDNs who have 20 or more years of experience earn $11.08 per hour more than those with five or less years of experience, per the AND. RDNs with supervisory responsibilities earn an average of $17.47 per hour more than RDNs without supervisory duties.
Demand for RDNs
BLS projections estimate that, between the years 2021 and 2031, the demand for RDNs will grow by 7 percent, as fast as the average for all occupations. They estimate 5600 openings for RDNs each year during the decade. A majority of these openings will result from the need to replace RDNs who are retiring, changing occupations, or leaving the work force.
Highest-Paying Industries and Practice Areas for RDNs
According to the BLS, the highest-paying industries in which RDNs work, circa May 2022, are:
| INDUSTRY | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| Computer System Design/Related Services | $83,510 |
| Home Health Care Services | $82,850 |
| Scientific Research/Development Services | $82,470 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $81,180 |
| Federal Executive Branch of Government | $81,120 |
The AND’s 2021 survey determined that RDNs who work in the following practice areas tend to make the highest salaries:
| INDUSTRY/PRACTICE AREA | MEAN HOURLY WAGE | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| Management/Executive | $43.04 | $89,523.20 |
| Education and Research | $42.84 | $89,107.20 |
| Consultation and Business | $39.42 | $81,993.60 |
| Long-Term Care | $32.70 | $68,016 |
| Outpatient/Ambulatory | $32.64 | $67,891.20 |
The AND’s survey also specified the following salaries for employment sectors for RDNs:
| SECTOR | MEAN HOURLY WAGE | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| Self-Employed | $38.27 | $79,601.60 |
| Military | $37.37 | $77,729.60 |
| Government | $34.07 | $70,865.60 |
| For-Profit | $33.65 | $69,992 |
| Non-Profit | $33.00 | $68,640 |
Highest-Paying Locations Where RDNs Work
Location, location, location….it can greatly increase, or decrease, an RDN’s salary.
States Offering Higher RDN Wages
The BLS notes that, circa May 2022, the following states are the highest-paying states for RDNs to work in:
| STATE | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| District of Columbia | $83,550 |
| Maine | $82,480 |
| California | $80,160 |
| New York | $79,910 |
| New Jersey | $79,630 |
The AND’s 2021 survey tends to agree with these findings, noting the following Census divisions as the highest-paying locations in which RDNs work:
| CENSUS DIVISION | MEAN HOURLY WAGE | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| Pacific | $40.00 | $83,200 |
| New England | $36.05 | $74,984 |
| Mid Atlantic | $35.00 | $72,800 |
| Mountain | $32.49 | $67,579.20 |
| West South Central | $32.21 | $66,996.80 |
Metropolitan Areas Offering Higher RDN Wages
The BLS reports that RDNS working in these metropolitan areas, circa May 2022, earn the highest wages:
| METROPOLITAN AREA | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $106,800 |
| San Fransisco/Oakland/Hayward, CA | $101,120 |
| San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara, CA | $98,980 |
| San Luis Obispo/Paso Robles/Arroyo Grande, CA | $94,030 |
| Portland/South Portland, ME | $93,470 |
Nonmetropolitan Areas Offering Higher RDN Wages
Nonmetropolitan areas tend to pay lower wages, on average, than metropolitan areas. The BLS reports that the following nonmetropolitan areas pay RDN wages that are higher than the average as of May 2022:
| NONMETROPOLITAN AREA | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| North Valley/Northern Mountain Regions of California | $84,920 |
| North Coast Region of California | $83,000 |
| Southern Vermont nonmetro area | $78,240 |
| Hawaii/Kauai nonmetro area | $78,000 |
| Alaska nonmetro area | $77,890 |
Salaries for NDTRs
Nutrition and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (NDTRs), often referred to as Dietetic Technicians, are another popular category nutrition careers, and one for which the BLS maintains statistics. As of May 2022, the BLS reports that NDTRs earn a mean hourly wage of $17.49, translating to a mean annual wage of $36,370. Those earning in the 75th percentile make $18.98 per hour, or $39,480 per year; while those earning in the 90thpercentile make $24.00 per hour, or $49,920 per year.
The AND’s Salary Survey for 2021 notes the total cash compensation for NDTRs they surveyed averages $49,000. NDTRs who are AND members also tend to make $0.58 per hour more than non-member NDTRs.
Demand for NDTRs
The BLS projects that dietetic technician jobs will increase by 5 percent between 2021 and 2031, representing an average increase. An estimated 2500 new jobs for NDTRs will be added each year during that decade.
Highest Paying Industries and Practice Areas for NDTRs
The BLS reports that circa May 2022, these industries/practice areas paid the highest wages to dietetic technicians:
| INDUSTRY/PRACTICE AREA | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| Outpatient Care Center | $44,060 |
| Physicians’ Offices | $42,940 |
| Other Health Practitioners’ Offices | $41,250 |
| Colleges, Universities, Professional Schools | $41,230 |
| Local Government | $40,650 |
The AND’s survey notes that the highest paying practice area for NDTRs in 2021 is management and executive leadership, paying a mean hourly wage of $31.14.
Highest-Paying Locations Where NDTRs Work
Certain areas of the country pay dietetic technicians higher wages than others.
States Offering Higher NDTR Wages
As of May 2022, the BLS reports that these states pay the highest dietetic technician wages:
| STATE | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| Oregon | $49,580 |
| New York | $47,600 |
| Washington | $47,590 |
| California | $44,330 |
| District of Columbia | $42,900 |
This correlates with the AND’s survey, which notes that the mean hourly wage for dietetic technicians working in the Pacific region is $3 per hour higher than average, and the mean hourly wage for NDTRs working in the South Atlantic region is $2 higher per hour than average.
Metropolitan Areas Offering Higher NDTR Wages
Dietetic technicians earn the highest wages in these metropolitan areas (circa May 2022):
| METROPOLITAN AREA | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara, CA | $55,700 |
| San Francisco/Oakland/Hayward, CA | $53,070 |
| Portland/Vancouver/Hillsboro, OR-WA | $51,350 |
| Oxnard/Thousand Oaks/Ventura, CA | $48,360 |
| Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, WA | $47,680 |
Non-Metropolitan Areas Offering Higher NDTR Wages
Dietetic technicians earn the highest wages in the following non-metropolitan areas (circa May 2022):
| NONMETROPOLITAN AREA | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE |
| North Valley/Northern Mountains region, CA | $39,740 |
| North Coast region, CA | $38,650 |
| Southwest New York nonmetro area | $36,810 |
| Southern Vermont nonmetro area | $35,750 |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area | $33,700 |
Sources
29-1031 Dietitians and Nutritionists. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 30 June 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291031.htm.
29-2051 Dietetic Technicians. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 30 June 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292051.htm.
Dietetic Technicians. O-Net Online. 23 May 2023. Accessed 30 June 2023 at https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2051.00.
Dietitians and Nutritionist. Occupational Outlook Handbook. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022. Accessed 30 June 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm.
Dosedel, Erik. “Compensation and Benefits Survey 2021.” Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. November 2021. Accessed 30 June 2023 at https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(21)01258-2/fulltext.