Dietetic Technicians
Dietetic Technicians (SOC 29-2051) earn a median $37,640 a year ($18.09 an hour) in the United States, with 31,560 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Oregon.
What dietetic technicians do
Dietetic technicians assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. They observe and monitor patients' food intake and body weight and report changes, progress and dietary problems to the dietitian. They conduct nutritional assessments, obtaining and evaluating dietary histories to plan nutritional programs, and they plan menus or diets or guide individuals and families in food selection and preparation based on nutritional needs and established guidelines. Tasks also include preparing a major meal by following recipes and working out group food quantities, supervising food production or service, and assisting dietitians with food service planning. They develop job specifications, job descriptions and work schedules, attend interdisciplinary meetings with other health professionals to discuss patient care, and help dietitians research food, nutrition or food service systems. Education is varied: about a third of respondents report an associate degree, over a quarter a postsecondary certificate and some report some college courses. Alternative titles like clinical dietetic technician, diet clerk, diet aide and certified dietary manager show the range of roles.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report an associate degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (35 percent).
Also called: Certified Dietary Manager (CDM), Child Nutrition Assistant, Clinical Dietetic Technician, Cook Chill Technician (CCT), Diet Aide.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.29 | $16.29 | $18.09 | $22.00 | $25.97 | $19.54 | 31,560 |
| Annual | $29,720 | $33,880 | $37,640 | $45,750 | $54,020 | $40,630 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where dietetic technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $20.95 | $23.74 | $26.29 | $28.88 | $29.81 | $25.98 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.15 |
| Annual | $43,580 | $49,370 | $54,670 | $60,070 | $61,990 | $54,040 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.13 | $18.70 | $24.24 | $29.32 | $31.23 | $24.23 | 1,580 | 0.16 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $35,620 | $38,900 | $50,420 | $60,980 | $64,950 | $50,390 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $17.95 | $19.60 | $22.99 | $24.55 | $26.52 | $23.90 | 230 | 0.08 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $37,330 | $40,760 | $47,810 | $51,060 | $55,160 | $49,720 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $20.63 | $21.61 | $22.89 | $28.06 | $30.61 | $24.53 | 170 | 0.06 | 0.28 |
| Annual | $42,900 | $44,940 | $47,610 | $58,360 | $63,670 | $51,020 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $20.11 | $21.78 | $22.60 | $26.97 | $29.82 | $24.29 | 290 | 0.08 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $41,820 | $45,310 | $47,000 | $56,090 | $62,030 | $50,530 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.70 | $18.43 | $22.31 | $25.13 | $30.78 | $23.19 | 6,310 | 0.35 | 1.71 |
| Annual | $36,810 | $38,340 | $46,410 | $52,270 | $64,020 | $48,240 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $14.78 | $16.02 | $17.51 | $18.43 | $19.08 | $17.41 | 3,060 | 0.70 | 3.43 |
| Annual | $30,730 | $33,310 | $36,420 | $38,330 | $39,680 | $36,210 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $15.15 | $16.00 | $16.70 | $17.85 | $19.01 | $17.43 | 2,420 | 0.24 | 1.20 |
| Annual | $31,500 | $33,280 | $34,740 | $37,120 | $39,540 | $36,250 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $14.33 | $15.06 | $16.39 | $17.83 | $21.81 | $17.05 | 2,300 | 0.38 | 1.87 |
| Annual | $29,810 | $31,320 | $34,090 | $37,080 | $45,360 | $35,460 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $15.53 | $15.92 | $16.21 | $17.43 | $20.71 | $17.44 | 1,670 | 0.61 | 2.98 |
| Annual | $32,290 | $33,120 | $33,710 | $36,260 | $43,070 | $36,270 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $25.39 | $25.99 | $28.88 | $29.81 | $29.81 | $27.79 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.14 |
| Annual | $52,800 | $54,060 | $60,070 | $61,990 | $61,990 | $57,790 | ||||
| Redding, CA | Hourly | $16.87 | $17.65 | $28.73 | $28.73 | $28.73 | $25.34 | 60 | 0.77 | 3.79 |
| Annual | $35,090 | $36,720 | $59,760 | $59,760 | $59,760 | $52,710 | ||||
| Columbus, OH | Hourly | $17.73 | $19.49 | $24.48 | $27.69 | $29.02 | $23.34 | 160 | 0.15 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $36,880 | $40,550 | $50,920 | $57,580 | $60,360 | $48,550 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $19.40 | $21.28 | $24.37 | $33.99 | $39.45 | $27.87 | 360 | 0.32 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $40,350 | $44,260 | $50,690 | $70,710 | $82,050 | $57,970 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $18.58 | $19.29 | $24.34 | $25.49 | $30.57 | $23.66 | 90 | 0.43 | 2.10 |
| Annual | $38,650 | $40,110 | $50,630 | $53,020 | $63,590 | $49,220 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.73 | $18.31 | $21.85 | $24.40 | $29.63 | $22.18 | 2,550 | 0.41 | 2.00 |
| Annual | $36,870 | $38,080 | $45,450 | $50,750 | $61,630 | $46,140 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.35 | $18.69 | $23.94 | $29.65 | $31.14 | $24.23 | 1,430 | 0.15 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $36,080 | $38,880 | $49,800 | $61,660 | $64,770 | $50,390 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $15.08 | $15.20 | $17.69 | $18.65 | $19.08 | $17.57 | 1,200 | 0.63 | 3.11 |
| Annual | $31,370 | $31,610 | $36,800 | $38,800 | $39,680 | $36,540 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $15.22 | $16.19 | $16.91 | $18.13 | $22.60 | $17.96 | 980 | 0.34 | 1.66 |
| Annual | $31,650 | $33,670 | $35,160 | $37,700 | $47,000 | $37,350 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $15.00 | $16.41 | $16.85 | $17.92 | $18.65 | $17.40 | 740 | 0.26 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $34,140 | $35,050 | $37,260 | $38,790 | $36,190 | ||||
Top industries employing dietetic technicians
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals employ 38.1% of dietetic technicians nationally (12,030 jobs) at a median $41,140 a year ($19.78 an hour), followed by Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (30.8%) and Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (8.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 12,030 | 38.1% | $41,140 | $19.78 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) NAICS 623100 | 9,710 | 30.8% | $35,460 | $17.05 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly NAICS 623300 | 2,610 | 8.3% | $34,020 | $16.36 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 1,310 | 4.2% | $41,760 | $20.08 |
| Special Food Services NAICS 722300 | 920 | 2.9% | $36,650 | $17.62 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (31,560). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $29,520 for dietetic technicians in May 2021 and $37,640 in May 2025, with employment of 21,610 and 31,560.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $29,520 | $14.19 | 21,610 |
| May 2022 | $33,960 | $16.33 | 19,690 |
| May 2023 | $36,520 | $17.56 | 24,240 |
| May 2024 | $37,040 | $17.81 | 29,950 |
| May 2025 | $37,640 | $18.09 | 31,560 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
46 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon profile | $26.29 | $54,670 | $43,580 | $61,990 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.15 |
| 2 | New York profile | $24.24 | $50,420 | $35,620 | $64,950 | 1,580 | 0.16 | 0.80 |
| 3 | Colorado profile | $22.99 | $47,810 | $37,330 | $55,160 | 230 | 0.08 | 0.39 |
| 4 | Minnesota profile | $22.89 | $47,610 | $42,900 | $63,670 | 170 | 0.06 | 0.28 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $22.60 | $47,000 | $41,820 | $62,030 | 290 | 0.08 | 0.40 |
| 6 | California profile | $22.31 | $46,410 | $36,810 | $64,020 | 6,310 | 0.35 | 1.71 |
| 7 | Arizona profile | $22.10 | $45,970 | $37,360 | $58,900 | 370 | 0.12 | 0.57 |
| 8 | Hawaii profile | $20.95 | $43,580 | $34,820 | $53,460 | 130 | 0.20 | 0.99 |
| 9 | Illinois profile | $20.46 | $42,550 | $36,490 | $49,840 | 590 | 0.10 | 0.48 |
| 10 | Maine profile | $20.35 | $42,320 | $39,260 | $50,820 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.31 |
| 11 | Connecticut profile | $20.21 | $42,040 | $35,690 | $53,770 | 330 | 0.19 | 0.95 |
| 12 | New Hampshire profile | $20.11 | $41,830 | $34,890 | $50,360 | 230 | 0.33 | 1.63 |
| 13 | Ohio profile | $19.89 | $41,380 | $31,570 | $58,170 | 660 | 0.12 | 0.59 |
| 14 | Delaware profile | $19.85 | $41,280 | $33,280 | $49,880 | 150 | 0.30 | 1.50 |
| 15 | District of Columbia profile | $19.62 | $40,810 | $38,580 | $52,670 | 190 | 0.28 | 1.36 |
| 16 | Utah profile | $19.51 | $40,580 | $34,340 | $50,000 | 890 | 0.51 | 2.52 |
| 17 | New Jersey profile | $19.49 | $40,530 | $36,640 | $57,980 | 400 | 0.09 | 0.46 |
| 18 | Montana profile | $19.25 | $40,040 | $37,060 | $47,790 | 100 | 0.20 | 1.00 |
| 19 | Massachusetts profile | $19.12 | $39,760 | $37,210 | $54,820 | 910 | 0.25 | 1.23 |
| 20 | Rhode Island profile | $18.94 | $39,400 | $35,930 | $48,670 | 50 | 0.10 | 0.48 |
| 21 | Oklahoma profile | $18.67 | $38,840 | $30,490 | $44,020 | 130 | 0.08 | 0.39 |
| 22 | Virginia profile | $18.65 | $38,790 | $27,870 | $47,530 | 460 | 0.11 | 0.55 |
| 23 | Wisconsin profile | $18.63 | $38,750 | $33,640 | $45,770 | 410 | 0.14 | 0.69 |
| 24 | Nebraska profile | $18.15 | $37,760 | $36,170 | $47,090 | 100 | 0.09 | 0.47 |
| 25 | Nevada profile | $18.09 | $37,630 | $32,390 | $48,340 | 370 | 0.24 | 1.16 |
| 26 | New Mexico profile | $18.07 | $37,580 | $35,820 | $43,030 | 100 | 0.12 | 0.58 |
| 27 | South Carolina profile | $17.68 | $36,770 | $27,630 | $39,080 | 450 | 0.19 | 0.95 |
| 28 | Michigan profile | $17.51 | $36,420 | $30,730 | $39,680 | 3,060 | 0.70 | 3.43 |
| 29 | Missouri profile | $17.36 | $36,100 | $29,560 | $43,510 | 290 | 0.10 | 0.49 |
| 30 | North Dakota profile | $17.25 | $35,890 | $28,110 | $38,900 | 90 | 0.20 | 0.98 |
| 31 | Iowa profile | $16.93 | $35,220 | $25,760 | $40,660 | 350 | 0.22 | 1.09 |
| 32 | West Virginia profile | $16.93 | $35,210 | $26,450 | $37,100 | 260 | 0.37 | 1.84 |
| 33 | Kansas profile | $16.86 | $35,060 | $32,600 | $43,060 | 140 | 0.10 | 0.49 |
| 34 | Florida profile | $16.70 | $34,740 | $31,500 | $39,540 | 2,420 | 0.24 | 1.20 |
| 35 | Georgia profile | $16.46 | $34,240 | $24,810 | $62,870 | 490 | 0.10 | 0.49 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania profile | $16.39 | $34,090 | $29,810 | $45,360 | 2,300 | 0.38 | 1.87 |
| 37 | Maryland profile | $16.21 | $33,710 | $32,290 | $43,070 | 1,670 | 0.61 | 2.98 |
| 38 | Idaho profile | $15.68 | $32,620 | $28,960 | $50,450 | 170 | 0.20 | 1.00 |
| 39 | Arkansas profile | $15.34 | $31,900 | $27,040 | $41,090 | 210 | 0.16 | 0.78 |
| 40 | Indiana profile | $15.22 | $31,660 | $27,570 | $45,820 | 690 | 0.22 | 1.06 |
| 41 | North Carolina profile | $14.91 | $31,010 | $25,340 | $41,260 | 1,300 | 0.26 | 1.30 |
| 42 | Texas profile | $14.56 | $30,280 | $23,940 | $47,800 | 1,360 | 0.10 | 0.48 |
| 43 | Kentucky profile | $13.93 | $28,970 | $22,580 | $38,250 | 430 | 0.21 | 1.06 |
| 44 | Louisiana profile | $13.88 | $28,860 | $20,800 | $36,590 | 190 | 0.10 | 0.49 |
| 45 | Mississippi profile | $13.79 | $28,690 | $22,990 | $37,790 | 120 | 0.10 | 0.49 |
| – | Tennessee profile | * | * | * | * | 230 | 0.07 | 0.35 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-2050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-2051 Dietetic Technicians.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-2051, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-2051.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.