Dietetic Technicians: Career Overview
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.
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The Daily Work of Dietetic Technicians Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of dietetic technicians include:
- 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.
What Dietetic Technicians Need to Know
Effective dietetic technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Dietetic Technicians Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Certified Dietary Manager (CDM)
- Child Nutrition Assistant
- Clinical Dietetic Technician
- Cook Chill Technician (CCT)
- Diet Aide
- Diet Assistant
- Diet Clerk
- Diet Tech (Diet Technician)
How Many Dietetic Technicians Are There?
There are roughly 559,515 dietetic technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +5.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Dietetic Technicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $137,981 |
| Hourly median | $66.34 |
| 10th percentile | $78,140 |
| 25th percentile | $108,061 |
| 75th percentile | $167,902 |
| 90th percentile | $197,823 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Dietetic Technicians Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $52,800 |
| New York | $48,230 |
| New Hampshire | $47,440 |
| District of Columbia | $46,100 |
| Minnesota | $45,410 |
| Washington | $45,310 |
| Colorado | $44,670 |
| Vermont | $43,720 |
| California | $43,460 |
| Maine | $42,780 |
| Hawaii | $42,510 |
| Arizona | $41,770 |
| Illinois | $41,440 |
| Rhode Island | $40,910 |
| Delaware | $39,840 |
| Ohio | $39,290 |
| Massachusetts | $39,190 |
| Utah | $39,180 |
| Virginia | $38,540 |
| New Jersey | $37,850 |
| Oklahoma | $37,770 |
| Connecticut | $37,150 |
| Wisconsin | $36,810 |
| Nebraska | $36,780 |
| Nevada | $36,280 |
| Michigan | $35,330 |
| Missouri | $35,040 |
| Kansas | $34,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,750 |
| New Mexico | $34,680 |
| Virgin Islands | $34,650 |
| Maryland | $34,520 |
| Florida | $34,430 |
| Iowa | $34,000 |
| West Virginia | $33,330 |
| Arkansas | $32,940 |
| Indiana | $31,620 |
| Idaho | $30,700 |
| South Carolina | $30,290 |
| North Carolina | $29,520 |
| Georgia | $29,100 |
| Louisiana | $28,740 |
| Mississippi | $28,340 |
| Texas | $28,330 |
| Kentucky | $27,910 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for dietetic technicians differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $43,158 | 24.0% | 1.65 |
| Middle Atlantic | $39,664 | 18.6% | 1.31 |
| New England | $39,157 | 4.7% | 1.12 |
| Rocky Mountains | $38,544 | 3.8% | 1.52 |
| Plains States | $36,725 | 3.2% | 0.63 |
| Great Lakes | $36,124 | 16.9% | 2.12 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $34,650 | 0.1% | 4.67 |
| Southwest | $31,672 | 8.8% | 0.71 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $58,040 | 40 |
| Syracuse, NY | NY | $48,950 | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $48,720 | 170 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $48,620 | 140 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $46,950 | 30 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $46,390 | 140 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $46,030 | 1,710 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $46,030 | 300 |
Top Industries Employing Dietetic Technicians
The largest employers of dietetic technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 26,380 | $37,210 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 510 | $31,420 |
| Educational Services | 290 | $45,240 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 50 | $41,100 |
Below are examples of industries where dietetic technicians work:
Software Dietetic Technicians Use
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of dietetic technicians reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
Getting Started in This Career
Most dietetic technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Food Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Medical and Health Services Managers (Supplemental)
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators (Supplemental)
- Food Scientists and Technologists (Supplemental)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Supplemental)
- Health Education Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Community Health Workers (Primary-Short)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for dietetic technicians typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2051.00 (Dietetic Technicians).
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