Dietetic Technician Registered Salary – What DTRs & Students Must Know
Dietetic Technicians Registered, or Nutrition & Dietetics Technician Registered, are also known as DTRs or NDTRs. The DTR will aide the Registered Dietitian (RD) in patient education, nutrition care planning, administrative tasks, and food service administration, in a variety of settings. The DTR healthcare professional is a highly educated individual in many of the same subjects as an RD, who typically works under the supervision of a RD to implement nutritional care plans and provide dietary services to individuals and groups.
Due to the rise in patient care needs, the DTR career has seen an increased demand in educational programs, and job opportunities. Naturally, dietetic technician students are keen to learn what their DTR salary may look like after passing the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Dietetic Technician, Registered exam. In this quick and highly informative article, DTRs on the hunt for jobs and students alike, will be able to assess DTR salary projections, identify states with the highest DTR salaries, and learn how to increase their odds of improving their DTR income potential.
The Dietetic Technician Registered Salary – What job factors influence the DTR’s salary?
Your DTR salary is State dependent
The dietetic technician, registered (DTR) salary will vary depending on the state in which the professional resides. In general, healthcare facilities and hospitals in states with a higher cost of living provide a DTR salary commensurate to that of the standard of living. When researching DTR salaries and jobs, the dietetic technician student should be prepared to consider all the options, even moving to another state, to achieve the best financial outcome, upon passing the CDR exam to obtain their DTR credential.
Your DTR salary may increase with specialty
Furthermore, the level of challenge or complexity involved in the DTR job position may also impact the salary the hospital or organization is willing to provide the DTR. For example, DTRs who work in a clinical care setting in an intensive care unit, under the supervision of an RD may receive a higher salary compared to the DTR who assisting in food service functions in hospital cafeteria. Both positions are important and serve an important function in the big picture of any healthcare facility. It may behoove the dietetic technician student to take interest in a specialized area of nutrition care, and develop their skills and clinical expertise in this area, in order to increase their chances of obtaining a higher DTR salary.
Your DTR salary may increase with experience
Experience in a specialized field combined with honed skill sets are particularly valuable to employers, and the same concept applies to DTR professionals. A dietetic technician, registered, who has over five years of experience working under an RD on the clinical side of a long term care facility may be able to obtain a higher DTR salary, in contrast to the entry level DTR for the same position. In addition, the years of experience gives the DTR advantages in terms of negotiating a higher salary for themselves. Of course, getting experience and sharpening skills as a DTR takes time and effort. There must be a desire to learn and develop exceptional dietetic technician skills. Seeking objective feedback from the RDs with whom the DTR works with is one way to accelerate this process. There is no replacement for hard work and experience! Experience accrues gradually as you progress in your DTR career. Just make sure that once you have experience under your belt, you use it to your advantage to negotiate a higher DTR salary.
Your DTR salary may depend on organizational budgets and financial resources
As good as you may be at vouching for yourself in DTR interview and salary negotiations, there may be little your manager can do to get you the DTR salary you desire. Managers in healthcare facilities have budgets that they need to work with that permit them to only go to a certain number for the DTR salary. If the DTR job position is aligned with your professional goals, it’s important to consider how the job experience can benefit you, even if the salary is not quite what you’d like. In consideration of this, it’s important for DTR professionals to evaluate what states tend to provide higher than average DTR salaries.
Dietetic Technician Registered Salary – Top 5 Highest Paying States
Alaska
$55,000 – $58,000
California
$55,500 – $64,000
District of Columbia
$56,100 – $63,000
Massachusetts
$48,164 – $61,4000
New Jersey
$48,800 – $62,500
DTR Job Responsibilities
Once the DTR is hired and their DTR salary is set, the professional will be expected to perform a variety tasks, including some direct contact with patients, as well as some administrative functions, in their place of employment. Below is a description common job responsibilities of a dietetic technician who is registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and has obtained the DTR, or NDTR credential.
Nutritional Assessment
DTRs assist in gathering and assessing information about a person’s dietary habits, medical history, and lifestyle to help create appropriate nutrition care plans.
Menu Planning and Development
They contribute to the development of menus and meal plans that meet specific nutritional needs, taking into consideration factors such as age, health conditions, and dietary preferences.
Patient Education
DTRs educate individuals and groups about proper nutrition and healthy eating habits. This may involve providing information on portion control, food selection, and dietary modifications.
Implementation of Nutrition Care Plans
DTRs work with registered dietitians to implement nutrition care plans, which may include monitoring and documenting dietary intake, conducting nutrition screenings, and making necessary adjustments to the plan.
Food Service Management
Some DTRs work in food service management, overseeing the preparation and service of meals in various settings such as hospitals, schools, or long-term care facilities. They may ensure that meals meet nutritional standards and accommodate specific dietary needs.
Collaboration with Healthcare Professionals
DTRs collaborate with other members of the healthcare team, including physicians, nurses, registered dietitians, and other allied health professionals, to provide comprehensive care to patients.
Community Outreach
DTRs may be involved in school nutrition programs, local food banks, Women Infants and Children (WIC) facilities, promoting healthy eating habits, and providing nutrition education in community settings.
