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The average salary for a Dietary Patient Aide is about $27,112 per year, equating to roughly $13 per hour. This salary can vary significantly depending on geographic location, with some states offering higher wages due to demand and cost of living. For instance, states like California and New York typically provide better compensation for healthcare positions.
Entry-level Dietary Patient Aides generally earn closer to the lower end of the salary spectrum, while those with several years of experience may command higher salaries. Additionally, working in specialized healthcare facilities often results in better pay.
Cities such as San Francisco and New York are recognized for offering the highest salaries in this field. The increased cost of living in these areas often reflects in the compensation offered to healthcare workers.
As the healthcare sector continues to expand, the demand for Dietary Patient Aides is expected to rise, which may lead to increased salaries and job opportunities. Those interested in advancing their careers may consider pursuing further education in nutrition or healthcare management.
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Let Zippi find your next dietary patient aide job
The highest-paying states for dietary patient aides are Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The lowest average dietary patient aide salary states are Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $29,977 | $14.41 |
| 2 | Michigan | $27,004 | $12.98 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $27,661 | $13.30 |
| 4 | Montana | $26,967 | $12.96 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $27,918 | $13.42 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $26,153 | $12.57 |
| 7 | Indiana | $26,287 | $12.64 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $26,803 | $12.89 |
| 9 | Ohio | $26,842 | $12.90 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $28,199 | $13.56 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $26,723 | $12.85 |
| 12 | New York | $27,667 | $13.30 |
| 13 | Idaho | $27,483 | $13.21 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $27,429 | $13.19 |
| 15 | Washington | $27,622 | $13.28 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $28,461 | $13.68 |
| 17 | Utah | $27,174 | $13.06 |
| 18 | Illinois | $26,057 | $12.53 |
| 19 | Iowa | $25,622 | $12.32 |
| 20 | Missouri | $25,460 | $12.24 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $27,244 | $13.10 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $25,380 | $12.20 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $26,106 | $12.55 |
| 24 | Vermont | $27,488 | $13.22 |
| 25 | Nevada | $26,489 | $12.74 |
| 26 | Alaska | $25,809 | $12.41 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $24,584 | $11.82 |
| 28 | Kansas | $24,589 | $11.82 |
| 29 | California | $27,780 | $13.36 |
| 30 | Colorado | $26,005 | $12.50 |
| 31 | Delaware | $26,288 | $12.64 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $24,793 | $11.92 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $24,247 | $11.66 |
| 34 | Texas | $23,945 | $11.51 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $24,604 | $11.83 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $26,874 | $12.92 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $24,140 | $11.61 |
| 38 | Oregon | $24,660 | $11.86 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $23,999 | $11.54 |
| 40 | Maryland | $24,755 | $11.90 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $21,574 | $10.37 |
| 42 | Arizona | $22,976 | $11.05 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $22,530 | $10.83 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | $25,551 | $12.28 |
| 45 | Florida | $21,134 | $10.16 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $21,718 | $10.44 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $23,078 | $11.10 |
| 48 | Alabama | $21,343 | $10.26 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $21,634 | $10.40 |
| 50 | Georgia | $21,343 | $10.26 |
| 51 | Virginia | $22,384 | $10.76 |
The highest-paying cities for dietary patient aides are Bangor, ME, Woonsocket, RI, and Buffalo, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor, ME | $29,975 | $14.41 |
| 2 | Woonsocket, RI | $28,291 | $13.60 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $27,996 | $13.46 |
| 4 | Santa Maria, CA | $27,925 | $13.43 |
| 5 | Belleville, NJ | $27,627 | $13.28 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $27,265 | $13.11 |
| 7 | Troy, MI | $27,098 | $13.03 |
| 8 | Hartford, CT | $26,934 | $12.95 |
| 9 | Frankfort, KY | $25,446 | $12.23 |
| 10 | Quincy, IL | $24,893 | $11.97 |
| 11 | Columbia, SC | $24,648 | $11.85 |
| 12 | Bethlehem, PA | $24,561 | $11.81 |
| 13 | Bristol, TN | $21,784 | $10.47 |
| 14 | Winston-Salem, NC | $21,730 | $10.45 |
| 15 | Oklahoma City, OK | $21,712 | $10.44 |
| 16 | Sanford, FL | $21,145 | $10.17 |
A dietary patient aide's salary ranges from $21,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $34,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 75th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| Average | $27,112 | $2,259 | $13 |
| 25th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
The highest paying types of dietary patient aides are medication aide, psychiatric aides teacher, and psychiatric attendant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Technician | $33,005 | $2,750 | $15.87 | 195,553 |
| Aide | $27,793 | $2,316 | $13.36 | 78,919 |
| Nurses' Aide | $30,496 | $2,541 | $14.66 | 157,723 |
| Patient Care Technician | $32,806 | $2,734 | $15.77 | 167,520 |
| Certified Nurses' Aide | $32,566 | $2,714 | $15.66 | 171,087 |
| Service Aide | $31,000 | $2,583 | $14.90 | 50,229 |
Top companies hiring dietary patient aides now:
Dietary patient aide salaries at Tufts Medical Center and Dignity Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average dietary patient aide salary at companies like Prime Healthcare and Beaumont Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tufts Medical Center | $31,558 | $15.17 |
| 2 | Dignity Health | $30,638 | $14.73 |
| 3 | Prime Healthcare | $30,615 | $14.72 |
| 4 | Beaumont Health | $30,565 | $14.69 |
| 5 | Compass Group USA | $30,280 | $14.56 |
| 6 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $30,150 | $14.50 |
| 7 | St. Luke's Health System | $29,646 | $14.25 |
| 8 | Blessing Hospital Emergency Room | $28,287 | $13.60 |
| 9 | RWJBarnabas Health | $27,931 | $13.43 |
| 10 | Dartmouth-Hitchcock | $27,877 | $13.40 |
| 11 | Security Officer Services | $27,164 | $13.06 |
| 12 | Sodexo Management, Inc. | $27,163 | $13.06 |
| 13 | Morrison Healthcare | $26,965 | $12.96 |
| 14 | Northern Lights | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| 15 | Gurwin Healthcare System | $26,111 | $12.55 |
The average dietary patient aide salary has risen by $3,898 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average dietary patient aide earned $23,214 annually, but today, they earn $27,112 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for dietary patient aides over the last decade.
Compare dietary patient aide salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare dietary patient aide salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $27,100 | $13.03 | +5.0% |
| 2024 | $25,800 | $12.39 | -4.5% |
| 2023 | $26,900 | $12.94 | +7.1% |
| 2022 | $25,000 | $12.02 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $24,600 | $11.85 | +2.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Patient Dining Associate Dietary Aide and | Wilmington, DE | 06/28/2025 | $36,523 |
| Compass Group, North America | Patient Dining Associate-Dietary Aide | Jacksonville, FL | 06/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Patient Dining Associate Dietary Aide | Jackson, MS | 06/26/2025 | $27,131 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Patient Dining Associate/Dietary Aide) | Macon, GA | 06/25/2025 | $33,392 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Patient Dining Associate-Dietary Aide | Schofield, WI | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Patient Dining Associate Dietary Aide | Birmingham, AL | 06/25/2025 | $31,305 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Patient Dining Associate-Dietary Aide | Saint Louis, MO | 06/25/2025 | $32,453 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Patient Dining Associate Dietary Aide | Sandy, PA | 06/25/2025 | $27,757 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Patient Dining Associate Dietary Aide | Leawood, KS | 06/25/2025 | $33,392 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Patient Dining Associate Dietary Aide | Shreveport, LA | 06/25/2025 | $31,305 |
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