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Dietetic Technicians: Career Overview
Assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. May plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.
The Daily Work of Dietetic Technicians Take On?
The core tasks performed by dietetic technicians span:
- Observe and monitor patient food intake and body weight, and report changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.
- Conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals' dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
- Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
- Supervise food production or service or assist dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning.
- Plan menus or diets or guide individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
- Develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.
- Attend interdisciplinary meetings with other health care professionals to discuss patient care.
- Provide dietitians with assistance researching food, nutrition, or food service systems.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top dietetic technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Dietetic Technicians Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Certified Dietary Manager (CDM)
- Child Nutrition Assistant
- Clinical Dietetic Technician
- Cook Chill Technician (CCT)
- Diet Aide
- Diet Assistant
- Diet Clerk
- Diet Tech (Diet Technician)
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 559,515 dietetic technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +5.0% over the projection horizon.
Dietetic Technicians Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $137,981 |
| Hourly median | $66.34 |
| 10th percentile | $78,140 |
| 25th percentile | $108,061 |
| 75th percentile | $167,902 |
| 90th percentile | $197,823 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Dietetic Technicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $52,800 |
| New York | $48,230 |
| New Hampshire | $47,440 |
| District of Columbia | $46,100 |
| Minnesota | $45,410 |
| Washington | $45,310 |
| Colorado | $44,670 |
| Vermont | $43,720 |
| California | $43,460 |
| Maine | $42,780 |
| Hawaii | $42,510 |
| Arizona | $41,770 |
| Illinois | $41,440 |
| Rhode Island | $40,910 |
| Delaware | $39,840 |
| Ohio | $39,290 |
| Massachusetts | $39,190 |
| Utah | $39,180 |
| Virginia | $38,540 |
| New Jersey | $37,850 |
| Oklahoma | $37,770 |
| Connecticut | $37,150 |
| Wisconsin | $36,810 |
| Nebraska | $36,780 |
| Nevada | $36,280 |
| Michigan | $35,330 |
| Missouri | $35,040 |
| Kansas | $34,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,750 |
| New Mexico | $34,680 |
| Virgin Islands | $34,650 |
| Maryland | $34,520 |
| Florida | $34,430 |
| Iowa | $34,000 |
| West Virginia | $33,330 |
| Arkansas | $32,940 |
| Indiana | $31,620 |
| Idaho | $30,700 |
| South Carolina | $30,290 |
| North Carolina | $29,520 |
| Georgia | $29,100 |
| Louisiana | $28,740 |
| Mississippi | $28,340 |
| Texas | $28,330 |
| Kentucky | $27,910 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for dietetic technicians shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $43,158 | 24.0% | 1.65 |
| Middle Atlantic | $39,664 | 18.6% | 1.31 |
| New England | $39,157 | 4.7% | 1.12 |
| Rocky Mountains | $38,544 | 3.8% | 1.52 |
| Plains States | $36,725 | 3.2% | 0.63 |
| Great Lakes | $36,124 | 16.9% | 2.12 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $34,650 | 0.1% | 4.67 |
| Southwest | $31,672 | 8.8% | 0.71 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $58,040 | 40 |
| Syracuse, NY | NY | $48,950 | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $48,720 | 170 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $48,620 | 140 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $46,950 | 30 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $46,390 | 140 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $46,030 | 1,710 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $46,030 | 300 |
Top Industries Employing Dietetic Technicians
The bulk of dietetic technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 26,380 | $37,210 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 510 | $31,420 |
| Educational Services | 290 | $45,240 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 50 | $41,100 |
Below are examples of industries where dietetic technicians work:
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for dietetic technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
Getting Started in This Career
Most dietetic technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Food Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Medical and Health Services Managers (Supplemental)
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators (Supplemental)
- Food Scientists and Technologists (Supplemental)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Supplemental)
- Health Education Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Community Health Workers (Primary-Short)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for dietetic technicians often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2051.00 (Dietetic Technicians).
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