Health Technologists and Technicians

How to become a Dietetic Technician

Official title: Dietetic Technicians

Also called: Cook Chill Technician (CCT), Diet Assistant, Diet Clerk, Diet Tech (Diet Technician), Diet Tech (Dietetic Technician), Diet Technician Registered (DTR), Dietary Aide, Dietetic Assistant, Dietetic Technician Registered (DTR), Nutrition Technician

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.

Main tasks

Observe and monitor patient food intake and body weight, and report changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.
Conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals' dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
Supervise food production or service or assist dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning.
Plan menus or diets or guide individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
Develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.
Attend interdisciplinary meetings with other health care professionals to discuss patient care.
Provide dietitians with assistance researching food, nutrition, or food service systems.

How to become one

Typical education to start: Associate's degree

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Certified Dietary Manager.
Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General; Nutrition Sciences; Dietetics/Dietitian

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $37,640 a year The middle half earn $33,880 to $45,750.
About 32,100 people work in this job now, and about 32,900 are projected by 2035. (+2.7%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Dietetic Technician?

Ways in include: Associate's degree; Certified Dietary Manager.

How much does a Dietetic Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $37,640 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $33,880 to $45,750.

Is a Dietetic Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 32,100 to about 32,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Dietetic Technician?

Usually not. Only 16% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree; Certified Dietary Manager.

Will AI change the work of a Dietetic Technician?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.