Occupations · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Dietetic Technicians

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 29-2051.00

$37,040median annual wage, May 2024

29,950people employed, United States

▲ 2.5%projected change, 2024→2034

4,000openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 65% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$40,960	2,340
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$46,030	1,710
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$35,580	1,140
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$34,940	1,070
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI	$35,110	610
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$28,750	610
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$39,460	560
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	$37,890	550
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$44,940	550
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$44,930	550
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$34,010	480
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$33,450	470

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Associate's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

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.
Determine food and beverage costs and assist in implementing cost control procedures.
Develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.
Refer patients to other relevant services to provide continuity of care.
Attend interdisciplinary meetings with other health care professionals to discuss patient care.
Provide dietitians with assistance researching food, nutrition, or food service systems.
Deliver speeches on diet, nutrition, or health to promote healthy eating habits and illness prevention and treatment.
Select, schedule, or conduct orientation or in-service education programs.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Speaking3.4

Active Listening3.2

Critical Thinking3.1

Writing3.1

Reading Comprehension3.1

Monitoring3.1

Learning Strategies3.1

Active Learning3.1

Mathematics2.9

Science2.0

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

MEDITECH software●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●Appointment scheduling softwareAxxya Systems Nutritionist ProCBORD Nutrition Service SuiteComputrition Nutrition Care Management NCM SelectCyberSoft NutriBaseCybersoft Primero Software SuiteDietMaster Systems Clinical NutritionESHA Research The Food ProcessorFood Service Solutions FoodCoGnutritionLunchByte Systems NUTRIKIDSNutriGenie Optimal NutritionPatient electronic medical record EMR softwareThe Nutrition Company FoodWorksUSDA Child Nutrition DatabaseValuSoft MasterCookWeb browser softwareeTritionWare

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Exposed to Disease or Infections+2.6 above average

Health and Safety of Other Workers+1.3 above average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions−1.1 below average

Spend Time Walking or Running+1.1 above average

Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings+1.0 above average

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable+1.0 above average

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment−0.9 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2021-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)35%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)27%

Some College Courses15%

Less than a High School Diploma10%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2021-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Social5.0

Conventional3.8

Realistic3.8

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Attend interdisciplinary meetings with other health care professionals to discuss patient care.
Observe and monitor patient food intake and body weight, and report changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.

O*NET 25.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Complex Problem Solving3.1

Instructing3.1

Service Orientation3.1

Social Perceptiveness3.1

Judgment and Decision Making3.1

Time Management3.0

Coordination3.0

Persuasion2.9

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingMathematicsPublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and Management

Abilities it leans on

Oral ComprehensionOral ExpressionDeductive ReasoningSpeech ClarityWritten ComprehensionProblem Sensitivity

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

Diet AideDiet ClerkMenu PlannerDietary AideDietary ClerkDiet AssistantNutrition ClerkDietary AssistantDietetic AssistantNutrition AssistantNutrition AssociateNutrition CounselorNutrition TechnicianNutrition Coordinator

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 3 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 4

+Microsoft Office software+Microsoft PowerPoint+Microsoft Excel+MEDITECH software

No longer listed 3

−Spreadsheet software−Desktop publishing software−Presentation software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

Diet AideDiet ClerkDietary AidDietary AideMenu PlannerDietary ClerkDiet AssistantDietary ManagerNutrition ClerkDietary AssistantDietetic AssistantDietary Technician

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
dietetic technician	3259.3	exact
prepared meals nutritionist	2265.1.1	broader
diet cook	5120.1.1	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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