Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.
Dietitians and Nutritionists
SOC: 29-1031 O*NET: 29-1031.00
Median Salary
$73,850
per year
Job Growth
📈 5.5%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
6.2
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Job Zone 5
Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.
What does a Dietitians and Nutritionists do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$48,830
10th percentile
Early Career
$61,260
25th percentile
Median
$73,850
50th percentile
Experienced
$85,200
75th percentile
Top Earners
$101,760
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$48,830
25th
$61,260
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$73,850
Mean: $74,770
75th
$85,200
90th
$101,760
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $52,930 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $61,260 and $85,200
- •Salary spread is 32.4% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 76,570 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:90,900
Top Industries
Hospitals25.1%
Ambulatory Health Care Services23.8%
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals22.4%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+5.5%
Annual Openings:6,200
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)90,900
Current
2034 (Projected)95,900
+5.5%
+5,000
Employment Change
+5.5%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Dietitians and Nutritionists professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
9,630 jobs$93,6401.07x
Texas
6,900 jobs$66,6401.00x
New York
5,500 jobs$79,3101.16x
Florida
4,800 jobs$71,8900.98x
Pennsylvania
4,040 jobs$66,0201.35x
North Carolina
2,620 jobs$64,9101.08x
New Jersey
2,450 jobs$78,0801.16x
Illinois
2,420 jobs$67,7600.80x
Massachusetts
2,390 jobs$80,8401.32x
Ohio
2,290 jobs$69,9900.83x
Michigan
2,140 jobs$72,5500.98x
Georgia
1,910 jobs$74,0100.79x
Missouri
1,620 jobs$62,3401.12x
Tennessee
1,470 jobs$62,6300.90x
Virginia
1,440 jobs$75,2100.71x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Judgment and Decision Making
100%
#2
Social Perceptiveness
94%
#3
Reading Comprehension
86%
#4
Active Listening
80%
#5
Critical Thinking
74%
#6
Speaking
66%
#7
Monitoring
60%
#8
Service Orientation
54%
#9
Writing
46%
#10
Complex Problem Solving
40%
Skills Overview
Judgment and Decision Making
advanced5.0
100%
Social Perceptiveness
advanced4.7
94%
Reading Comprehension
basic4.3
86%
Active Listening
intermediate4.0
80%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.7
74%
Speaking
intermediate3.3
66%
Monitoring
intermediate3.0
60%
Service Orientation
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Judgment and Decision Making
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance86%
abilities
4.3/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Service Orientation
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Writing
basicImportance46%
skills
2.3/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Physician Assistants100%
5 shared skills
Child, Family, and School Social Workers100%
5 shared skills
Emergency Medicine Physicians100%
5 shared skills
Speech-Language Pathology Assistants100%
5 shared skills
Paralegals and Legal Assistants100%
5 shared skills
School Psychologists100%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Active Listening
Learn on the Job:
- →Speaking
- →Monitoring
- →Service Orientation
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Judgment and Decision Making
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Social Perceptiveness
- ★Active Listening
- ★Judgment and Decision Making
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Dietitians and Nutritionists
Technology Intensity
Very High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Planning & Development (11)General Responsibilities (6)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)Management & Supervision (1)Communication & Coordination (2)
1
Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions, and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development100% perform100%
2
Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Advise patients and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans, diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development94% perform96%
4
Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Monitor food service operations to ensure conformance to nutritional, safety, sanitation and quality standards.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Coordinate recipe development and standardization and develop new menus for independent food service operations.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development85% perform90%
7
Develop policies for food service or nutritional programs to assist in health promotion and disease control.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development82% perform88%
8
Inspect meals served for conformance to prescribed diets and standards of palatability and appearance.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Develop curriculum and prepare manuals, visual aids, course outlines, and other materials used in teaching.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Planning & Development76% perform84%
10
Prepare and administer budgets for food, equipment, and supplies.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on planning & development activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Dietitians and Nutritionists
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Dietitians and Nutritionists professionals typically have a SIE Holland code and highly value relationships
SSocial
IInvestigative
EEnterprising
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Dietitians and Nutritionists
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.67
Concern for Others
CriticalConcern for Others
Importance Level4.57
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.40
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.40
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.27
Analytical Thinking
ImportantAnalytical Thinking
Importance Level3.97
Complete Work Styles Profile
Integrity
4.7
Concern for Others
4.6
Attention to Detail
4.4
Dependability
4.4
Cooperation
4.3
Analytical Thinking
4.0
Self-Control
3.9
Initiative
3.9
Social Orientation
3.8
Independence
3.8
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Typical duration: 4 years
Preparation Level
Job Zone 5
Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. These may include master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
Training:
Extensive training and work experience required
💼 Experience Requirement
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Master's or doctoral degree
- • Extensive work experience in the field
- • State licensure or professional certification
5
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Most of these occupations require graduate school. These may include master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
Master's or doctoral degreeExtensive work experience in the fieldState licensure or professional certification
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