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Dietetic Technicians

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $37,640 Median per year · $18.09/hr Most earn $29,720–$54,020

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals' dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
  • Determine food and beverage costs and assist in implementing cost control procedures.
  • Plan menus or diets or guide individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
  • Deliver speeches on diet, nutrition, or health to promote healthy eating habits and illness prevention and treatment.
  • Develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.
  • Develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 4,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • General medical and surgical hospitals37.8%
  • Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)30.6%
  • Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly8.1%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals4.2%
  • Special food services2.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Dietetic Technician is usually not a job you start straight out of school. Most people complete a certificate or training program, then work about 1 to 2 years in food service or nutrition before taking on this role. The path is roughly 2 to 4 years in total after high school.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build a solid base in science, math, and health, which the nutrition training that follows will build on.

  2. Nutrition or food service certificate program

    1 year

    Learn food safety, meal planning, nutrition basics, and kitchen operations, which are the core skills employers look for.

  3. Dietary Aide

    1-2 years

    Work in a hospital, care home, or school kitchen preparing meals under supervision, gaining hands-on experience with special diets and food service rules.

  4. Dietetic Technician

    Ongoing career

    Assist a dietitian by planning and producing meals to guidelines, teaching food and nutrition topics, and counseling individuals under supervision.

Where it can lead

  1. Dietitian and Nutritionist

    1-2 years of experience first

    Moving up usually means earning a bachelor's degree and working more independently on assessing and treating nutrition needs, which takes more schooling than this role.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and health classesThese classes build the science background you need for nutrition training later.
  • Join a Future Health Professionals or FCCLA-type clubClubs focused on health, family and consumer sciences, or cooking show you the field and let you practice teamwork and planning.
  • Get a starter job in a restaurant, cafeteria, or grocery deliWorking around food teaches kitchen routines, food safety, and customer service, which are all used in dietetic technician work.
  • Volunteer at a senior center, food pantry, or hospital gift shopVolunteering shows you how food and health needs affect real people and gives you experience to list on applications.
  • Practice reading nutrition labels and planning simple mealsPlanning balanced meals for your family or a budget builds the habit of thinking about nutrition guidelines.

In college

  • Take nutrition, food science, and microbiology coursesThese courses cover the nutrition and food safety knowledge used every day in dietetic technician work.
  • Look for a campus dining or food service jobCampus dining jobs give you kitchen and food service experience that counts toward the work experience employers often ask for.
  • Enroll in a certificate or associate program in dietetic technology or nutritionA formal training program is the typical route into this career and teaches the skills employers look for.
  • Join a nutrition or health student organizationClubs in these areas let you meet people in the field, hear guest speakers, and build leadership experience.
  • Get a food handler or food safety certificationThis short certification is often required for food service jobs and shows employers you understand kitchen safety.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a dietitian or food service manager at a local hospital or care facility if you can shadow them or talk with them about the job. Real conversations show you what the work is like day to day.
  • Look for part-time or summer jobs in a school cafeteria, restaurant kitchen, or care home. Hands-on food service experience counts toward the 1 to 2 years employers often want.
  • Get food handler certification early. It is usually inexpensive, shows employers you take safety seriously, and is a common requirement for kitchen jobs.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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