Dietitians and Nutritionists salary in the U.S.
Dietitians and Nutritionists in the U.S. earn a median of $76,400 a year ($36.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 77,570 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,720 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $77,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dietitians and nutritionists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| 25th percentile | $63,080 | $30.33 |
| Median | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| 75th percentile | $89,340 | $42.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,720 | $49.87 |
| Average (mean) | $77,130 | $37.08 |
Half of dietitians and nutritionists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,366.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,183.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,938.46 |
| Weekly | $1,469.23 |
| Hourly | $36.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dietitians and Nutritionists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $98,850 | 8,720 |
| West Virginia | $89,440 | 520 |
| Alaska | $87,980 | 130 |
| New Jersey | $84,450 | 2,870 |
| Washington | $84,220 | 1,450 |
| Oregon | $84,180 | 700 |
| New York | $82,480 | 5,330 |
| District of Columbia | $82,150 | 270 |
| Hawaii | $81,920 | 370 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 | 860 |
| Delaware | $78,060 | 290 |
| Maryland | $77,800 | 1,430 |
| Minnesota | $77,540 | 1,180 |
| Vermont | $77,450 | 160 |
| Virginia | $77,380 | 1,510 |
| Massachusetts | $76,660 | 2,860 |
| Florida | $76,050 | 4,370 |
| Colorado | $75,510 | 1,640 |
| Wisconsin | $74,930 | 1,330 |
| New Mexico | $74,730 | 500 |
| Texas | $74,440 | 5,320 |
| Illinois | $73,520 | 2,840 |
| Georgia | $73,200 | 2,020 |
| Iowa | $72,690 | 630 |
| New Hampshire | $71,840 | 440 |
| Idaho | $71,610 | 420 |
| Montana | $71,580 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $71,300 | 360 |
| Louisiana | $70,460 | 800 |
| Nebraska | $70,160 | 570 |
| North Dakota | $70,040 | 270 |
| South Carolina | $69,970 | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $69,560 | 1,230 |
| Ohio | $69,530 | 3,060 |
| Kentucky | $69,520 | 1,040 |
| Nevada | $69,030 | 560 |
| Tennessee | $67,620 | 1,230 |
| North Carolina | $67,560 | 2,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,410 | 4,270 |
| Michigan | $66,850 | 2,370 |
| Kansas | $66,830 | 580 |
| Indiana | $66,450 | 1,670 |
| Alabama | $66,190 | 780 |
| Arkansas | $65,540 | 650 |
| Missouri | $65,450 | 1,700 |
| Utah | $65,310 | 1,120 |
| South Dakota | $64,890 | 210 |
| Maine | $64,610 | 510 |
| Arizona | $64,410 | 1,800 |
| Wyoming | $64,370 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $63,700 | 540 |
| Guam | $60,260 | 40 |
| Puerto Rico | $47,210 | 560 |
Best-paying metro areas for dietitians and nutritionists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $122,910 | 610 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $117,380 | 1,210 |
| Vallejo, CA | $111,430 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $103,760 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $102,580 | 550 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $102,060 | 100 |
| Salinas, CA | $101,640 | 60 |
| Napa, CA | $101,050 | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $99,720 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,870 | 620 |
| Modesto, CA | $97,830 | 100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $97,350 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | $96,880 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $95,450 | 3,060 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $95,280 | 710 |
Metro areas with the most dietitians and nutritionists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,490 | $86,690 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,060 | $95,450 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,150 | $74,860 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,030 | $73,560 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,000 | $77,840 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,340 | $77,180 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,320 | $77,540 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,280 | $64,420 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,220 | $81,750 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,210 | $117,380 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,190 | $79,750 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,050 | $77,710 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 880 | $68,390 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 880 | $87,580 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 810 | $75,970 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $256,560 | $123.35 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dietitians and nutritionists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for dietitians and nutritionists in the U.S. is $76,400 a year, or $36.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dietitians and nutritionists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of dietitians and nutritionists in the U.S. earn at least $103,720 a year. The top 25% earn $89,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for dietitians and nutritionists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,090 a year, and a quarter of dietitians and nutritionists earn $63,080 or less.
How many dietitians and nutritionists work in the U.S.?
About 77,570 dietitians and nutritionists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.