Starting Salary of a Dietitian
Dietitians provide clients with advice on food and nutrition. Dietitians generally earn a four-year undergraduate degree followed by a one-year, supervised work training program. Dietitians can apply to become registered through the American Dietitic Association to earn the credential "Registered Dietitian." The starting salary for dietitians in the U.S. varies widely based on work location.
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Starting Salary For Dietitians
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Dietitians nationwide earn an annual average salary of $53,230 with a mean hourly wage of $25.59. The salary of new dietitians is near the bottom of the scale because the career rewards experience. The starting salary for a dietitian is $33,230 annually with an hourly wage of $15.98. There are 53,220 dietitians employed nationwide.
Salary Range
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Although the starting salary for dietitians is low, the pay for dietitians climbs with certification and years of experience. Dietitians in the top decile nationwide earned $74,690 annually with an hourly wage of $35.91. Obtaining a registered dietitian certification and having many years of experience significantly increases pay.
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Location Differences
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The pay for starting dietitians varies widely across the country. The best states for starting salaries for dietitians are Maryland, Nevada, California, Hawaii and Connecticut. The average pay for all 820 dietitians in Maryland is $64,600 while the average pay for all 220 dietitians in Montana is $45,280.
Dietitians primarily work in hospitals, nursing homes, and for state and local governments. While there is slight variation in pay for dietitians depending on employer, state of employment and certification have more impact.
Additional Compensation
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Benefits are not included in the salary figures for dietitians. Since salary comprises only 70 percent of the total value of compensation for employees nationwide, the total compensation for starting dietitians exceeds $40,000 once benefits are included.
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References
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