# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dietetic-technicians
- SOC code: 29-2051.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $37,640 (10th percentile $29,720, 90th percentile $54,020)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.7%
- Openings a year: 4,200
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code SCR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 47 |
| Investigative (I) | 41 |
| Artistic (A) | 26 |
| Social (S) | 68 |
| Enterprising (E) | 26 |
| Conventional (C) | 47 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 95/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 88/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 87/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 86/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 82/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Processing Information (importance 80/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 79/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 78/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Active Listening, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making, Learning Strategies, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Education and Training, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, Food Production, Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Production and Processing

## Also called

Certified Dietary Manager (CDM), Child Nutrition Assistant, Clinical Dietetic Technician, Cook Chill Technician (CCT), Diet Aide, Diet Assistant, Diet Clerk, Diet Tech (Diet Technician), Diet Tech (Dietetic Technician), Diet Technician Registered (DTR)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1905) (CIP 1905, 276 colleges)
- [Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5131) (CIP 5131, 260 colleges)
- [Nutrition Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3019) (CIP 3019, 167 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Nutrition Sciences | $42,425 | $79,391 | $11,677 |
| [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh-1884) | Nutrition Sciences | $38,266 | $75,508 | $19,630 |
| [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university-3134) | Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $30,289 | $74,005 | $20,500 |
| [California State University-Fresno](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-fresno-369) | Nutrition Sciences | $33,844 | $73,522 | not reported |
| [University of Georgia](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-georgia-2912) | Nutrition Sciences | $24,347 | $70,867 | $13,250 |
| [New York University NYU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | Nutrition Sciences | $24,449 | $70,508 | not reported |
| [University of Massachusetts-Lowell](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-lowell-2953) | Nutrition Sciences | not reported | $69,604 | $25,750 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Nutrition Sciences | $37,212 | $68,930 | $17,644 |

## Related careers

- [Dietitians and Nutritionists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dietitians-and-nutritionists): $76,400 median pay
- [Health Education Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/health-education-specialists): $64,070 median pay
- [Home Health Aides](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/home-health-aides): $35,800 median pay
- [Psychiatric Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/psychiatric-technicians): $45,130 median pay
- [Community Health Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/community-health-workers): $51,850 median pay
- [Exercise Physiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/exercise-physiologists): $59,460 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.