Dietitian / Nutritionist
Health Science
Translate nutrition science into food plans people can actually follow, in clinics, schools, and communities.
Why it matters here: Hospitals, dialysis centers, schools, and federal nutrition agencies all hire in the region.
Labor Market — DMV Region
Sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS releases (DMV metro and nationwide) plus MD, VA, and D.C. workforce agencies.
Local cost of living is why DMV pay often differs from the national median.
- DMV & state figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — OEWS wage & employment estimates and Employment Projections, with OEWS area pay relatives for the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria metro, Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia · View source
- Occupation profiles & skills: O*NET OnLine (U.S. Department of Labor) · onetonline.org
All salary figures are published estimates for groups of workers, not offers or guarantees for any individual role.
Education & Career Pathways
Multiple ways to get here — pick the one that fits your life.
Career Progression
How you can grow — with expected salary at each step.
- Entry-level Dietitian / NutritionistLearning the role, supervised work, building core skills.$62,130
- Dietitian / Nutritionist (experienced)Independent work, mentoring newer team members.$75,950
- Senior / Lead Dietitian / NutritionistOwning projects, specialization, higher responsibility.$91,560
- Manager or specialist trackSupervising a team or moving into a high-demand specialty.$109,872
Skills Required
What you'll actually do — and how you'll be judged.
Clinic, hospital or community program, weekday hours
Where you work
Hospital units, outpatient clinics, school or agency offices, and community kitchens.
Hours and schedule
Mostly weekday daytime; hospital roles include some weekend rotation.
Pace and pressure
Scheduled patient sessions plus charting, screening and menu or program work.
Who you work with
Physicians, nurses, food service staff, social workers and families.
Physical demands
Walking units; otherwise desk and consult work.
What people wear
Business casual or a lab coat over it; scrubs in some settings.
Remote reality
Telehealth counseling is well established.
Workplace culture: what's normal here
- Advice must fit the person's budget, culture and kitchen, or it will not be followed.
- You document against clinical standards and defend recommendations to the care team.
- Change is slow; you celebrate small, sustained shifts.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Work Environment, with regional detail for the DMV.
Official data behind this career
Federal statistics for DMV Region, translated into plain language.
Data unavailable for this category.
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV metro area
Source: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates (tables DP03, DP02, DP05)
- The DMV functions as one labor market: workers routinely cross state lines to get to work.
- The largest employment destinations are D.C., Fairfax County and Montgomery County.
Top places these workers go to work
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — BEA regional GDP and personal income, most recent published year
Private-sector payroll data from ADP. It is a supplemental near-real-time indicator and does not replace BLS government employment statistics.
Source: ADP National Employment Report — Most recent monthly ADP National Employment Report
- 1U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH, OEWS, Employment Projections, CES) — Primary source for occupation wages, outlook, projected openings, education and training.
- 2U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey — Primary source for income, educational attainment, labor force and demographic context by place.
- 3Census LEHD (LODES / OnTheMap) — Primary source for where workers live versus where they work, and local workforce flows.
- 4U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Primary source for regional GDP, industry contribution, compensation and personal income.
- 5ADP National Employment Report — Supplemental near-real-time private-sector employment and pay indicator. Not a replacement for BLS.
Figures describe groups of workers, not any one person. Where an official figure is not published for a category, this page says “Data unavailable for this category.” rather than estimating.
Related Careers
Explore similar occupations with overlapping skills.
Care for patients, run assessments, and coordinate treatment with the care team.
Help people recover movement and manage pain after injury or surgery.
Prepare operating rooms and assist surgeons during procedures.
Clean teeth, screen for oral disease, and coach patients on prevention.