Salary of a Dietitian Technician

Dietitian technicians ensure that customers and patients receive nutritious meals.

There were 23,890 dietitian or dietetic technicians working in the United States in 2009, according to a May 2010 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These professionals primarily assist dietitians in planning and preparing nutritious foods and menu items for schools, colleges, nursing homes, hospitals and government agencies. They also educate patrons or patients on nutrition and document their meals. Many of these workers have two-year degrees in dietetics. They typically get paid annual salaries.

Salary and Benefits

Dietitian technicians earned annual median salaries of $27,060, according to the May 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics' report. Median salaries appear in the middle of salary lists, which can vary somewhat from mean or average salaries. The middle half earned salaries between $20,980 and $35,260 per year. The top 10 percent made more than $43,000 per year. These professionals earned average annual salaries of $28,820. Like other nutritional professionals, they are usually eligible for benefits such as medical and life insurance, paid holidays and vacations, and retirement savings plans.

Average Salary by Industry

Dietitian technicians' salaries can vary somewhat per industry. They earned some of the highest annual salaries of $36,100 in the community food and housing/emergency relief services industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those working in colleges and universities also earned relatively high salaries at $33,230 per year. These workers made above-average salaries of $32,310 per year working for state government agencies. They earned salaries closer to the national average working for local government agencies at $28,840 per year. And those employed by nursing homes made slightly less at $25,960 per year.

Average Salary by State

Dietitian technicians' salaries are also higher in certain states. For example, they earned the highest annual salaries in Minnesota at $38,970, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics' information. They earned their second highest salaries in Maryland at $37,780 per year. Those in Rhode Island also earned above-average salaries of $35,610 annually. These nutritional workers earned closer to average salaries in Michigan at $28,580 per year. And those in South Carolina and West Virginia earned somewhat less at $22,350 and $20,620 per year, respectively.

Job Outlook

The number of jobs for dietitians and nutrition professionals, including dietitian technicians, is expected to increase 9 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to December 2009 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This rate of growth is about average for most careers and professions. Most job growth will be spurred by a greater interest in nutrition among people, institutions and government agencies. An aging population will also increase demand for dietitian technicians.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Career Guide to Industries, 2010-11 Edition: Dietitians and Nutritionists; December 2009
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics: Dietetic Technicians; May 2010
• StateUniversity.com: Dietetic Technician Job Description, Career as a Dietetic Technician, Salary, Employment
• Education-Portal.com: Dietetic Technician Job Description, Duties and Requirements