Dietetic Technicians Salary
The median pay for a dietetic technicians in Illinois is $42,550/year ($20.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $45,338 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 48.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in Illinois?
About dietetic technicians
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for dietetic technicians, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,407/month, which is 49.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level dietetic technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Dietetic Technicians salary by metro in Illinois
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $44K | +2% | 450 |
| Rockford | $36K | -14% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track dietetic technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dietetic technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 49.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dietetic technicians in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dietetic technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,189/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 64% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dietetic technician a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $43K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for dietetic technicians?
Illinois pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dietetic technicians make in Illinois?
The median is $42,550 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,490, and experienced dietetic technicians can clear $49,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,843/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 49.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dietetic technicians salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dietetic technicians salary is worth about $45,338 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dietetic technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
