Occupation salary profile

Dietetic Technicians

SOC 29-2051 BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

National median · BLS
$37,640
▲ +1.62% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$40,630
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
31,560
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Dietetic Technicians

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$29,720
25th$33,880
Median (50th)$37,640
75th$45,750
90th — top pay$54,020

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Dietetic Technicians

BLS projects employment of dietetic technicians to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 4,200 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
32,100 → 32,900
+900 jobs
Projected change
+2.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
4,200
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
No related experience required
Self-employed
0.4% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need an associate's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Dietetic Technicians

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Speaking3.4
  • Active Listening3.3
  • Active Learning3.1
  • Complex Problem Solving3.1
  • Critical Thinking3.1
  • Instructing3.1
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.1
  • Learning Strategies3.1
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Reading Comprehension3.1
Top knowledge areas
  • Customer and Personal Service4.8
  • English Language4.5
  • Education and Training4.2
  • Mathematics4.0
  • Public Safety and Security4.0
  • Administration and Management3.9
  • Food Production3.9
  • Administrative3.8
Software and technology used
MEDITECH softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordAppointment scheduling softwareAxxya Systems Nutritionist ProCBORD Nutrition Service SuiteComputrition Nutrition Care Management NCM SelectCyberSoft NutriBaseCybersoft Primero Software SuiteDietMaster Systems Clinical NutritionESHA Research The Food ProcessoreTritionWareFood Service Solutions FoodCoGnutrition

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What dietetic technicians do

  • 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.
Also called
Diet Tech (Dietetic Technician)Diet Technician Registered (DTR)Dietary AideNutrition TechnicianCook Chill Technician (CCT)Diet AssistantDiet ClerkDiet Tech (Diet Technician)Dietetic AssistantDietetic Technician Registered (DTR)
More job titles for this occupation (26)
Certified Dietary Manager (CDM)Child Nutrition AssistantClinical Dietetic TechnicianDiet AideDietary AssistantDietary ClerkDietary Technician (Dietary Tech)Food and Nutrition AssistantFood and Nutrition Services AssistantFood Service TechnicianMenu PlannerNutrition AssistantNutrition AssociateNutrition Care AssistantNutrition ClerkNutrition CoordinatorNutrition CounselorNutrition Services AssistantNutrition Services AssociateNutrition Services AttendantNutrition Services Technician (Nutrition Services Tech)Nutrition Services WorkerRegistered Diet TechnicianRegistered Dietetic Technician (DTR)School Nutrition AssistantSchool Nutrition Manager

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.