Table of Contents
Nutritionists make $73,850 a year on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the highest 10% earning more than $101,760 per year.
Nutritionists guide people on how to eat for better health or to meet specific goals, such as losing weight or lowering blood pressure. Some work one-on-one with clients in clinical settings, while others design meal plans and wellness programs for schools, community centers, or public health organizations.
Read on to learn more about how much a nutritionist can make per year and per hour, which states pay the highest salaries, and other compensation and occupational benefits nutritionists enjoy.
Key Points
• The mean annual salary for nutritionists in the U.S. is $73,850, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Earnings can vary based on factors like experience, location, and specialization, with some nutritionists earning over $100,000 per year.
• Nutritionists can work in various settings, including hospitals, schools, private practices, and government agencies.
• Higher education and specialized certifications can lead to better job opportunities and higher salaries.
• The job outlook for nutritionists is positive, with a projected growth rate faster than the average for all occupations.
What Are Nutritionists?
A nutritionist is an expert in using food to improve health and to prevent and manage disease. Nutritionists often advise people on what to eat to address a particular medical issue, such as hypertension, diabetes, or obesity. They may also be called upon to come up with a plan of action in situations where a treatment protocol, such as chemotherapy, impacts an individual’s overall diet or creates particular food sensitivities. Their exact role will depend on their specialization.
Being a nutritionist is not an ideal job for antisocial people, since you generally don’t work alone. Nutritionists can work in a variety of work settings, including:
• Hospitals and doctors’ offices
• Nursing homes
• Gyms and recreation centers
• Foodservice organizations
• Food and beverage companies
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Government organizations
While the terms “nutritionist” and “dietitian” are often used interchangeably, there are some key distinctions between them. A registered dietitian (R.D.) is qualified to diagnose and treat certain medical conditions. Nutritionists, on the other hand, tend to focus on general nutritional aims and behaviors.
While every dietitian can be called a nutritionist, not every nutritionist is a dietitian.
Check your score with SoFi
Track your credit score for free. Sign up and get $10.*
How Much Do Starting Nutritionists Make a Year?
While the average nutritionist’s salary is $73,850 a year, someone just starting out in the field may not be able to earn that figure as an entry-level salary. The lowest 10% of nutritionists made less than $48,830 per year.
That said, a nutritionist coming into the profession with an advanced degree, such as a master’s or doctorate, and a license or other credentials, may be able to command a higher-than-average salary even when they are just starting out.
💡 Quick Tip: When you have questions about what you can and can’t afford, a spending tracker app can show you the answer. With no guilt trip or hourly fee.
What Is the Average Salary for a Nutritionist?
While salaries for a nutritionist can range anywhere from $48,830 to $101,760, the average annual pay for a nutritionist in the U.S. is $73,850 a year.
Nutritionist’s typically get paid an annual salary but some may make money by the hour, which averages $35.50.
How much a nutritionist makes, however, can vary significantly by education, credentials, experience, industry, and location.
Recommended: Is a $100,000 Salary Good?
Average Nutritionist Salary by State for 2025
As mentioned above, how much money a nutritionist makes can vary by location. What follows is a breakdown of how much a dietician makes per year, on average, by state.
| State | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $67,720 |
| Alaska | $84,150 |
| Arizona | $67,770 |
| Arkansas | $66,660 |
| California | $94,390 |
| Colorado | $76,180 |
| Connecticut | $85,190 |
| Delaware | $75,060 |
| Florida | $70,180 |
| Georgia | $74,970 |
| Hawaii | $80,380 |
| Idaho | $67,490 |
| Illinois | $69,570 |
| Indiana | $65,570 |
| Iowa | $69,240 |
| Kansas | $68,710 |
| Kentucky | $64,760 |
| Louisiana | $72,790 |
| Maine | $67,810 |
| Maryland | $84,080 |
| Massachusetts | $82,380 |
| Michigan | $75,740 |
| Minnesota | $74,420 |
| Mississippi | $61,780 |
| Missouri | $62,120 |
| Montana | $68,900 |
| Nebraska | $68,170 |
| Nevada | $73,930 |
| New Hampshire | $63,590 |
| New Jersey | $83,080 |
| New Mexico | $68,830 |
| New York | $80,500 |
| North Carolina | $66,540 |
| North Dakota | $67,840 |
| Ohio | $69,970 |
| Oklahoma | $65,810 |
| Oregon | $86,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,810 |
| Rhode Island | $74,880 |
| South Carolina | $67,590 |
| South Dakota | $64,210 |
| Tennessee | $63,030 |
| Texas | $67,100 |
| Utah | $61,000 |
| Vermont | $76,520 |
| Virginia | $75,440 |
| Washington | $81,140 |
| West Virginia | $69,050 |
| Wisconsin | $70,700 |
| Wyoming | $69,840 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Nutritionist Job Considerations for Pay & Benefits
To get a job as a nutritionist or dietitian, you may need:
• A bachelor’s degree, ideally in dietetics, nutrition, food service systems management, clinical nutrition, or a related area
• An advanced degree (such as a master’s or doctoral degree)
• Supervised training through an internship
• A license (many, though not all, states require licenses for dietitians and nutritionists to practice)
• Certification (many dietitians earn the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential, which requires a bachelor’s degree and a completed dietetic internship program)
Nutritionists who work on staff typically receive not only competitive pay but also a suite of benefits, which may include:
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance
đź’ˇ Quick Tip: Income, expenses, and life circumstances can change. Consider reviewing your budget a few times a year and making any adjustments if needed.
Pros and Cons of Becoming a Nutritionist
As with any profession, becoming a nutritionist comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a closer look at the job’s pros and cons.
Pros
• Opportunity to help people: Nutritionists help people by guiding them in their food choices and assisting them in reaching their health and nutritional goals, which can be highly rewarding.
• Varied tasks and responsibilities: A nutritionist can enjoy meeting a variety of people in different contexts. No client or situation will be the same, and each will bring new challenges.
• Can work in a variety of settings: Nutritionists can choose where they want to work, such as a hospital, nursing home, school, or gym. With extensive experience, a registered dietitian might open a private consulting practice and offer specialized services to their patients.
• Strong job outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the employment of dietitians and nutritionists to grow 6% between 2024 and 2034, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Recommended:Top 10 Fastest-Growing Jobs
Cons
• May need an advanced degree and certification: Depending on where you want to work, you may need to obtain a master’s and/or certain certifications (on top of a bachelor’s degree).
• Can be emotionally draining: Though generally a low-stress job, nutritionists may need to have frequent interactions with seriously ill patients, which can be emotionally challenging.
• You constantly have to stay up to date: Nutrition is an evolving science, which means you’ll need to stay current on the latest nutritional guidelines, regulations, and research, and adjust your practice based on new developments.
• Competition for top-paying jobs: While the job outlook is strong for nutritionists, jobs with competitive pay may receive a lot of applicants. Obtaining more than the minimum education and training required by the state, however, can set you apart from other job competitors.
Recommended: How Much Does a Nurse Make a Year?
The Takeaway
Working as a nutritionist can be a rewarding career for people who want to help others improve their health and lifestyle. Nutritionists can choose where they want to work and who they want to work with. A nutritionist’s salary can range from $48,830 to $101,760 or more depending on their certification, experience, and employer.
Whatever type of job you pursue, you’ll want to make sure your earnings can cover your everyday living expenses. To confirm your monthly outflows don’t exceed your monthly inflows, you may want to set up a basic budget and check out financial tools that can help track your income and spending.
Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.
See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.
FAQ
Can you make $100k a year as a nutritionist?
Yes, you can earn $100,000 a year as a nutritionist. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 10% of earners make more than $101,760 per year.
Do people like being a nutritionist?
People who want to help others and who have an interest in the science of food will enjoy being a nutritionist. There are plenty of opportunities for nutritionists in a variety of contexts.
Is it hard to get hired as a nutritionist?
Nutritionists and dieticians are currently in demand and job opportunities are expected to grow 6% between 2024 and 2034, which is faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Photo credit: iStock/Candle Photo
SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.
This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
SORL-Q425-046