Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary
The median pay for a dietitians and nutritionists in Illinois is $73,520/year ($35.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $78,338 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 29.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $74K get you in Illinois?
About dietitians and nutritionists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Illinois
Dietitians and nutritionists pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level dietitians and nutritionists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Dietitians and Nutritionists salary by metro in Illinois
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $74K | +0% | 2,030 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $64K | -12% | 60 |
| Springfield | $64K | -13% | 60 |
| Rockford | $63K | -14% | 100 |
| Peoria | $62K | -15% | 100 |
| Bloomington | $62K | -16% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track dietitians and nutritionists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a dietitians and nutritionist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dietitians and nutritionists in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dietitians and nutritionists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,080/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for dietitians and nutritionists?
Illinois pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dietitians and nutritionists make in Illinois?
The median is $73,520 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,330, and experienced dietitians and nutritionists can clear $115,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,706/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 29.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dietitians and nutritionists 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 dietitians and nutritionists salary is worth about $78,338 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.