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.
Also called: Certified Dietary Manager (CDM), Child Nutrition Assistant, Clinical Dietetic Technician, Cook Chill Technician (CCT), Diet Aide, Diet Assistant
Median pay
$37,640
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$29,720 – $54,020
People employed
31,560
Holland code
SCR
Social · Conventional · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 2.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 5.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 6.Do you prefer working indoors?
The hard parts
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
Dietetic Technicians pay by state
Annual median pay by state (44 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What dietetic technicians do
- 01Observe and monitor patient food intake and body weight, and report changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.
- 02Conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals' dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
- 03Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
- 04Supervise food production or service or assist dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning.
- 05Plan menus or diets or guide individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
- 06Determine food and beverage costs and assist in implementing cost control procedures.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cooperation
- Empathy
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from dietetic technicians
- Nursing Assistants81% · +12%
- Medical Assistants78% · +21%
- Registered Nurses75% · +159%
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria74% · −1%
- Community Health Workers73% · +38%
Change into dietetic technicians
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Nursing Assistants74% · $42,260
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria72% · $37,450
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education69% · $38,140
- Childcare Workers68% · $34,980
Majors that lead here
- Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General
- Nutrition Sciences
- Dietetics/Dietitian
- Dietetic Technician
- Dietitian Assistant
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.