Dietetic technician registered salary

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.

Research and Evaluation

Some DTRs are involved in research activities related to nutrition and may participate in evaluating the effectiveness of nutrition interventions.

How can Dietetic Technicians, Registered, increase their earning potential?

Explore states with the highest paying DTR salaries

If the DTR salary is a deal breaker for the newly minted DTR, they may want to explore job opportunities in the states listed to have higher than average salaries for the profession.  Bear in mind that entry level DTR positions may not grant a crème of the crop salary right away, even though you reside in a state with the best DTR salaries.  Remember to adjust your expectations accordingly if you’re DTR career is just beginning.

Specialize

Identify what specialty of the nutrition and dietetics field excites you, and make a plan to learn all you can about this area.  Specialists are often more efficient and productive in their specific area of expertise. This efficiency can result in cost savings for employers, making DTRs with specialized skills more valuable, justifying higher salary. 

By specializing, DTRs can develop a deep level of expertise and knowledge in a specific area. This expertise is often highly valued by employers and the RDs with whom you will work.  Dietetic Technicians with specialized skills may command higher compensation for their specialized knowledge.

Build experience as a DTR

With experience comes the opportunity to develop and refine skills in dietetics and nutrition care. As DTRs gain proficiency in their roles, they become more valuable to employers and clients. Employers are often willing to pay higher salaries for individuals who possess a proven track record of delivering results.  If you have evidence of your positive track record through your resume, previous projects, references from RDs and management, all the better. 

Foster strong professional relationships with RDs, DTRs, Nurses, Physicians, and Management

When just getting started in the nutrition and dietetics profession it is important to develop good working relations with management, and all other healthcare providers you have daily interactions with.  Focus on delivering great quality work, and being the go-to DTR that the RD and other healthcare providers can count on. While the entry level DTR position may not provide your “goal” salary, it is a stepping stone to something bigger.  All the professional relationships you make at the first job can serve you in terms of references, and a provide a testament to your work ethic.  The expression, “the proof is in the pudding,” has never been truer, especially when high caliber healthcare providers can vouch for your accomplishments on the job, and future potential.

Continue to educate yourself about dietetics

Learning doesn’t end once the DTR credential is obtained.  DTR professionals will continue to learn on the job, as well as through the continuing education courses taken to maintain credentials with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).  It’s imperative to design a continuing education learning plan that suits the DTR’s professional goals and objectives.

Securing your DTR Salary

By learning more about the dietetic technician registered salary, these health professionals are better equipped to plan their next career moves. And, with the implementation of a few tips in this article, DTRs have the information needed to improve their earning potential, and salary.

For students gearing up for the DTR exam, be sure to check out popular Dietetic Exam Prep practice tests to help on the journey to becoming a registered dietetic technician!

The Nutrition and Dietetics profession, whether you are a DTR or an RD, can provide an abundance of learning opportunities, great memories of enriching the lives of others with diet and nutrition, and lifelong friendships. Remember to enjoy the ride, and your DTR journey.