How much does a Diet technician make?
a year · about $18 an hour
A typical Diet technician in the United States makes $37,640 a year, about $18 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They track what patients eat and their weight, then report changes or food problems to a dietitian. They may also help plan menus and supervise meal preparation so it follows nutrition guidelines.
Did you know? In some U.S. hospitals, dietetic technicians screen newly admitted patients for nutrition risks within 24 hours, asking about food intake, allergies, and health.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $29,720 and $54,020How do you become one?
In the United States, an associate degree is typical; an accredited dietetic-technician program is a common route. For DTR/NDTR, the associate route includes at least 450 supervised-practice hours and a national exam; a bachelor's-degree route is also available.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like helping and teaching and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, education, specialty or job title, and whether someone supervises others. It also varies by location and employer setting, such as a hospital, school, or clinic.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New York ($50,420), lowest in Texas ($30,280).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $29,720 | $37,640 | $54,020 | about 32,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $50,420 | about 2,000 |
| California | $46,410 | about 6,000 |
| Illinois | $42,550 | about 590 |
| Ohio | $41,380 | about 660 |
| Utah | $40,580 | about 890 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/about/print/data-for-occupations-not-covered-in-detail.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2051.00
- www.cdrnet.org/NDTReligibility
- www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(24)00919-5/abstract
- www.bls.gov/oes/2020/May/oes292051.htm
- admin.cdrnet.org/vault/2459/web/files/DTR%20Clinical%20Hospital%206%202018.pdf
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY