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Dietetic Technicians in California

Want to work as a Dietetic Technicians in California? Here’s what the data says. 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.

What do Dietetic Technicians Make in California?

For dietetic technicians working in California, wages run about $43,460 per year (or roughly $20.89/hour).Earnings range from $35,390 at the 10th percentile to $66,170 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$35,390	$17.02
25th percentile	$37,150	$17.86
Median (50th)	$43,460	$20.89
75th percentile	$51,300	$24.66
90th percentile	$66,170	$31.81

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California nationwide is 1.75, indicating that dietetic technicians are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, dietetic technicians earn a median of $137,981 per year ($66.34/hour), below the California median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 559,515 dietetic technicians across the United States. In California alone, about 6,120 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 310 dietetic technicians.

Top California Metros for Dietetic Technicians

The metro areas below employ the most dietetic technicians in California.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	2,340	$40,960
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	550	$44,930
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	550	$37,890
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	550	$44,940
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	410	$43,820
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	340	$45,590
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	170	$48,720
Stockton-Lodi, CA	140	$48,620
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	130	$37,010
Fresno, CA	100	$35,300
Modesto, CA	90	$42,140
Chico, CA	70	$39,980
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	70	$39,100
Vallejo, CA	70	$38,530
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	60	$39,450
Visalia, CA	60	$35,240

Top States for Dietetic Technicians Employment

These states have the highest employment of dietetic technicians work.

State	Number Employed
California	6,120
Michigan	2,770
Pennsylvania	2,000
Texas	1,880
Florida	1,800
New York	1,720
North Carolina	1,470
Maryland	850
Massachusetts	850
New Jersey	730
Ohio	710
Indiana	670
Utah	650
Kentucky	620
Arizona	520
Illinois	510
Nevada	470
Connecticut	400
Virginia	400
Georgia	390

Highest-Paying States for Dietetic Technicians

These states pay the most for dietetic technicians.

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

Skills

Top dietetic technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for dietetic technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Dietetic Technicians typically:

• 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.
• Select, schedule, or conduct orientation or in-service education programs.
• Analyze menus or recipes, standardize recipes, or test new products.
• Determine food and beverage costs and assist in implementing cost control procedures.
• Refer patients to other relevant services to provide continuity of care.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Processing Information
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: MEDITECH software In-demand technologies: Microsoft Office software

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

Related Careers

Other careers like dietetic technicians include:

• Food Service Managers
• Medical and Health Services Managers
• Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
• Food Scientists and Technologists
• Rehabilitation Counselors
• Health Education Specialists

Also Known 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), Diet Tech (Dietetic Technician), Diet Technician Registered (DTR), Dietary Aide, Dietary Assistant, Dietary Clerk, Dietary Technician (Dietary Tech), Dietetic Assistant.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-2051.00