Dietitian Projected Growth In The United States
Research Summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
Salaries have increased 7% for dietitians in the last 5 years
Projected job growth for dietitians is 11% from 2018-2028
There are over 32,004 dietitians currently employed in the United States
There are 6,164 active dietitian job openings in the US based on job postings
The average salary for a dietitian is $58,480
Are Dietitian Jobs In Demand?
Yes, dietitian jobs are in demand. The job market for analysts is projected to grow 11% from 2018 to 2028.
Dietitian Job and Salary Trends Over Time
Dietitian Jobs Over Time
Dietitian Job Growth Over Time
| Year | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 27,948 | 0.01% |
| 2013 | 28,567 | 0.01% |
| 2014 | 28,548 | 0.01% |
| 2015 | 28,668 | 0.01% |
| 2016 | 29,479 | 0.01% |
Average Dietitian Salary Over Time
Dietitian Salary By Year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $41,656 | $20.03 | - |
| 2009 | $43,547 | $20.94 | +4.5% |
| 2010 | $45,429 | $21.84 | +4.3% |
| 2011 | $46,894 | $22.55 | +3.2% |
| 2012 | $48,340 | $23.24 | +3.1% |
Number Of Dietitians By State
Mouse over a state to see the number of active dietitian jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where dietitians earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Most Common States For Dietitians
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 241 | 4% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 52 | 4% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 186 | 3% |
| 4 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 90 | 3% |
| 5 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 87 | 3% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 34 | 3% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 27 | 3% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 19 | 3% |
| 9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 323 | 2% |
| 10 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 228 | 2% |
| 11 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 189 | 2% |
| 12 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 166 | 2% |
| 13 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 140 | 2% |
| 14 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 113 | 2% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 31 | 2% |
| 16 | Delaware | 961,939 | 23 | 2% |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 21 | 2% |
| 18 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 15 | 2% |
| 19 | Alaska | 739,795 | 13 | 2% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 12 | 2% |
Most Common Cities For Dietitians In The US
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plymouth | 4 | 7% | $60,031 |
| 2 | Saginaw | 3 | 6% | $55,522 |
| 3 | Bismarck | 3 | 4% | $49,047 |
| 4 | Jonesboro | 3 | 4% | $50,228 |
| 5 | Southfield | 3 | 4% | $55,435 |
| 6 | Davenport | 3 | 3% | $51,321 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids | 3 | 2% | $51,368 |
| 8 | Hollywood | 3 | 2% | $51,497 |
| 9 | Boston | 9 | 1% | $59,837 |
| 10 | Baltimore | 6 | 1% | $57,912 |
| 11 | Indianapolis | 6 | 1% | $51,074 |
| 12 | Bakersfield | 3 | 1% | $78,303 |
| 13 | Hialeah | 3 | 1% | $51,568 |
| 14 | Rochester | 3 | 1% | $65,516 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 5 | 0% | $76,355 |
| 16 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $52,277 |
| 17 | Phoenix | 3 | 0% | $55,707 |
Experts Weigh In On Dietitian Job Outlook
We spoke to professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the job market for recent graduates is heading, as well as how young graduates entering the industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.
Our Panel of Experts
Marywood University
University of Connecticut
Kansas State University
Micheline Orlowsky
Clinical Coordinator for the Dietetic InternshipMarywood University
Nutrition & Dietetics Department
What skills stand out on Dietitian resumes?
Micheline Orlowsky: Leadership roles, Volunteer experiences in the profession, passion for the profession.
What soft skills should all Dietitians possess?
Micheline Orlowsky: Time management, work ethic, organization, ability to prioritize tasks, communication, and negotiation skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Dietitians?
Micheline Orlowsky: Management and analytical skills, critical thinking, marketing skills.
What skills will help Dietitians earn the most?
Micheline Orlowsky: Communication skills, management and leadership experience. The ability to market yourself as an expert in the field.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Dietitian job market given the pandemic?
Ellen Shanley: I have seen an increase in hiring with the pandemic. I think there has been an increase in some people choosing to leave the workforce earlier due to the pandemic as well as some parents feeling a need to be at home with children. I am hoping that programs seeing that people of color have been disproportionately impacted and will increase their reach to these populations.
What soft skills should all Dietitians possess?
Ellen Shanley: I see flexibility and adaptability as number 1. We know that life can change in a moment and we all need to be poised to flexible. Interpersonal skills are always important. Everyone has some much more on their plates today and many people are feeling the stress. We need to be able to empathize with all. Problem solving is another one. We need to be sure we can think critically and come up solution for issues in the workplace.
What's a day at work look like for a Dietitian?
Ellen Shanley: Individuals working in clinical positions in hospitals and long-term care facilities will continue to be face-to-face in the work environment and most likely will not be able to do nutrition focused physical exams by touching patients but will need to do more visual assessments. I believe we will continue to telehealth in many outpatient settings. I have students going into school nutrition jobs and I see them needing to be very flexible and creative in all they do!
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Dietitians?
Kevin Sauer Ph.D.: Most likely. Registered dietitian nutritionists (RNDs) are essential members of health care teams and provide specialized nutrition care for patients. Treatments for COVID-19 include screening for nutritional deficiencies and formulating individual nutritional plans. People with serious underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for developing more serious and potentially long-term complications from COVID-19 and RDNs have increased their capacity to provide nutritional care directly within medical centers and also through telehealth, to reach the most vulnerable clients. Indeed, all organizations are changing and will continue to change their structures and essentially, how they conduct business in the short and long-term due to the impacts of the pandemic. Graduates who monitor and adapt to the ever-changing organizations, and bring solutions under these conditions, will thrive the most.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Dietitians?
Kevin Sauer Ph.D.: Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are THE food and nutrition experts who have met rigorous qualifications to earn the credentials. The RD credential indicates to employers and the public that a practitioner has completed minimum educational requirements at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. All coursework is essential and includes food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems, business, and science courses. RDNs have also completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice, passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
What soft skills should all Dietitians possess?
Kevin Sauer Ph.D.: The traditional collection of commonly known soft skills will remain essential - communication, teamwork, flexibility, critical thinking and so forth. So, I recommend some additional humility skills. First, saying thank you and showing gratitude with sincerity in a vital skill. Giving credit where credit is due, especially when one is gaining from the hard work and thought of others. This fosters teamwork and trust, especially under stressful conditions. Third, practice forming an authentic and genuine apology, since it will be necessary at one point or another. Finally, maintaining systems-thinking and forming solutions around root causes of problems will advance graduates along their career paths.