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Best states for a registered dietitian
Quoted expert
Tara Miltenberger
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and healthcare practitioner and technical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to registered dietitian jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for registered dietitians.Although there are abundant registered dietitian jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. New York is the best state in the country for registered dietitian jobs.
In order to get you the best states for registered dietitians, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for registered dietitians, and the Northeast is the worst. Richmond, CA is the best city in the country for registered dietitian jobs, where as New York is the best state in the country.
10 best states for registered dietitians in 2026
1. New York
Total registered dietitian jobs: 270 Average annual salary: $65,540 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
2. Massachusetts
Total registered dietitian jobs: 176 Average annual salary: $64,934 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
3. Alaska
Total registered dietitian jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $76,237 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
4. Rhode Island
Total registered dietitian jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $65,298 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
5. Delaware
Total registered dietitian jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $64,147 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
6. New Hampshire
Total registered dietitian jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $62,811 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
7. Oregon
Total registered dietitian jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $71,065 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
8. California
Total registered dietitian jobs: 370 Average annual salary: $71,738 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
9. Minnesota
Total registered dietitian jobs: 97 Average annual salary: $65,934 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
10. New Mexico
Total registered dietitian jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $60,776 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
Registered dietitian jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a registered dietitian
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a registered dietitian
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $65,540 | $47,000 | 19,849,399 | 270 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $64,934 | $48,000 | 6,859,819 | 176 |
| 3 | Alaska | $76,237 | $69,000 | 739,795 | 13 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $65,298 | $47,000 | 1,059,639 | 19 |
| 5 | Delaware | $64,147 | $45,000 | 961,939 | 23 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $62,811 | $47,000 | 1,342,795 | 28 |
| 7 | Oregon | $71,065 | $56,000 | 4,142,776 | 46 |
| 8 | California | $71,738 | $53,000 | 39,536,653 | 370 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $65,934 | $53,000 | 5,576,606 | 97 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $60,776 | $47,000 | 2,088,070 | 33 |
| 11 | Maine | $57,521 | $44,000 | 1,335,907 | 49 |
| 12 | Nevada | $63,525 | $47,000 | 2,998,039 | 27 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $63,356 | $45,000 | 9,005,644 | 136 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $65,207 | $53,000 | 579,315 | 6 |
| 15 | Vermont | $63,023 | $48,000 | 623,657 | 10 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $55,790 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 26 |
| 17 | Iowa | $53,775 | $42,000 | 3,145,711 | 84 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $63,720 | $46,000 | 3,588,184 | 38 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $55,000 | $39,000 | 10,273,419 | 172 |
| 20 | Ohio | $52,500 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 192 |
| 21 | Maryland | $63,748 | $45,000 | 6,052,177 | 68 |
| 22 | Arizona | $55,249 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 98 |
| 23 | Indiana | $51,460 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 210 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $51,939 | $38,000 | 4,454,189 | 83 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $55,715 | $39,000 | 12,805,537 | 162 |
| 26 | Washington | $57,450 | $46,000 | 7,405,743 | 112 |
| 27 | Michigan | $51,670 | $38,000 | 9,962,311 | 145 |
| 28 | Kansas | $49,920 | $40,000 | 2,913,123 | 82 |
| 29 | Illinois | $53,592 | $40,000 | 12,802,023 | 193 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $50,428 | $36,000 | 5,024,369 | 94 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $62,907 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 15 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $49,792 | $41,000 | 755,393 | 16 |
| 33 | Texas | $52,511 | $39,000 | 28,304,596 | 310 |
| 34 | Florida | $50,451 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 311 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $51,755 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 80 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $59,627 | $51,000 | 1,427,538 | 10 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $50,841 | $41,000 | 1,920,076 | 34 |
| 38 | Montana | $54,403 | $45,000 | 1,050,493 | 9 |
| 39 | Utah | $52,499 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 28 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $45,854 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 25 |
| 41 | Virginia | $55,532 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 74 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $44,378 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 133 |
| 43 | Colorado | $51,651 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 69 |
| 44 | Georgia | $45,494 | $33,000 | 10,429,379 | 205 |
| 45 | Missouri | $49,812 | $39,000 | 6,113,532 | 67 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $49,033 | $38,000 | 3,004,279 | 24 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $49,681 | $39,000 | 3,930,864 | 26 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $43,989 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 38 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $46,475 | $34,000 | 4,684,333 | 48 |
| 50 | Idaho | $42,659 | $34,000 | 1,716,943 | 26 |
| 51 | Alabama | $38,071 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 62 |
Highest paying states for registered dietitians
| Rank | State | Avg. Registered Dietitian Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $65,540 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $64,934 |
| 3 | Alaska | $76,237 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $65,298 |
| 5 | Delaware | $64,147 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $62,811 |
| 7 | Oregon | $71,065 |
| 8 | California | $71,738 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $65,934 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $60,776 |
| 11 | Maine | $57,521 |
| 12 | Nevada | $63,525 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $63,356 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $65,207 |
| 15 | Vermont | $63,023 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $55,790 |
| 17 | Iowa | $53,775 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $63,720 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $55,000 |
| 20 | Ohio | $52,500 |
| 21 | Maryland | $63,748 |
| 22 | Arizona | $55,249 |
| 23 | Indiana | $51,460 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $51,939 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $55,715 |
| 26 | Washington | $57,450 |
| 27 | Michigan | $51,670 |
| 28 | Kansas | $49,920 |
| 29 | Illinois | $53,592 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $50,428 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $62,907 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $49,792 |
| 33 | Texas | $52,511 |
| 34 | Florida | $50,451 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $51,755 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $59,627 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $50,841 |
| 38 | Montana | $54,403 |
| 39 | Utah | $52,499 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $45,854 |
| 41 | Virginia | $55,532 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $44,378 |
| 43 | Colorado | $51,651 |
| 44 | Georgia | $45,494 |
| 45 | Missouri | $49,812 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $49,033 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $49,681 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $43,989 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $46,475 |
| 50 | Idaho | $42,659 |
| 51 | Alabama | $38,071 |
Expert opinions on the best states for registered dietitians
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for registered dietitians to find work opportunities?
Tara Miltenberger
Dietetic Internship Director and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Cedar Crest College
As research continues to support nutrition's role in preventing and treating chronic disease and illness, dietitians will remain in high demand as nutrition experts across multiple job sites, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, public health centers, and more. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that dietitians' employment would grow by eight percent in the next ten years, faster than average (1). I would anticipate national trends with the hiring of dietitians to remain the same and increase numbers exponentially. If telemedicine continues to grow to connect patients with dietitians, physical location may not be a factor. As states evaluate policy and insurance plans review coverage, employers and dietitians must consider the legal implication for practicing medical nutrition therapy across state lines (2).
(1) Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dietitians and Nutritionists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm (visited December 06, 2020).
(2) Commission on Dietetic Registration. Telehealth Overview: Can I Practice in this State? https://www.cdrnet.org/telehealth (visited December 13, 2020).
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Updated January 8, 2025