Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary
The median pay for a dietitians and nutritionists in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $77,840/year ($37.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $71,894 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,941/month, about 57.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $78K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About dietitians and nutritionists
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What this looks like in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Dietitians and nutritionists pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,941/month, which is 59.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dietitians and nutritionists in metros near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $74K | $72K |
| Springfield | $73K | $76K |
| Barnstable Town | $88K | $90K |
| Pittsfield | $76K | $80K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level dietitians and nutritionists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Dietitians and Nutritionists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Dietitians and Nutritionists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $99K | +29% | 8,720 |
| West Virginia | $89K | +17% | 520 |
| Alaska | $88K | +15% | 130 |
| New Jersey | $84K | +11% | 2,870 |
| Washington | $84K | +10% | 1,450 |
| Oregon | $84K | +10% | 700 |
| New York | $82K | +8% | 5,330 |
| District of Columbia | $82K | +8% | 270 |
| Hawaii | $82K | +7% | 370 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +5% | 860 |
| Delaware | $78K | +2% | 290 |
| Maryland | $78K | +2% | 1,430 |
| Minnesota | $78K | +1% | 1,180 |
| Vermont | $77K | +1% | 160 |
| Virginia | $77K | +1% | 1,510 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | +0% | 2,860 |
| Florida | $76K | -0% | 4,370 |
| Colorado | $76K | -1% | 1,640 |
| Wisconsin | $75K | -2% | 1,330 |
| New Mexico | $75K | -2% | 500 |
| Texas | $74K | -3% | 5,320 |
| Illinois | $74K | -4% | 2,840 |
| Georgia | $73K | -4% | 2,020 |
| Iowa | $73K | -5% | 630 |
| New Hampshire | $72K | -6% | 440 |
| Idaho | $72K | -6% | 420 |
| Montana | $72K | -6% | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $71K | -7% | 360 |
| Louisiana | $70K | -8% | 800 |
| Nebraska | $70K | -8% | 570 |
| North Dakota | $70K | -8% | 270 |
| South Carolina | $70K | -8% | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $70K | -9% | 1,230 |
| Ohio | $70K | -9% | 3,060 |
| Kentucky | $70K | -9% | 1,040 |
| Nevada | $69K | -10% | 560 |
| Tennessee | $68K | -11% | 1,230 |
| North Carolina | $68K | -12% | 2,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $67K | -12% | 4,270 |
| Michigan | $67K | -13% | 2,370 |
| Kansas | $67K | -13% | 580 |
| Indiana | $66K | -13% | 1,670 |
| Alabama | $66K | -13% | 780 |
| Arkansas | $66K | -14% | 650 |
| Missouri | $65K | -14% | 1,700 |
| Utah | $65K | -15% | 1,120 |
| South Dakota | $65K | -15% | 210 |
| Maine | $65K | -15% | 510 |
| Arizona | $64K | -16% | 1,800 |
| Wyoming | $64K | -16% | 120 |
| Mississippi | $64K | -17% | 540 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track dietitians and nutritionists salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dietitians and nutritionist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 59.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dietitians and nutritionists in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dietitians and nutritionists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,871/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dietitians and nutritionist a high-paying job in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for dietitians and nutritionists?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — below the national median.
How much do dietitians and nutritionists make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $77,840 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,520, and experienced dietitians and nutritionists can clear $107,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,938/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 59.6% 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 dietitians and nutritionists salary go in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dietitians and nutritionists salary is worth about $71,894 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dietitians and nutritionists 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.