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Compensation and Benefits Survey 2015
PRACTICE APPLICATIONS
Topics of Professional Interest
Compensation and Benefits Survey 2015 Editor’s Note: The Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession continues to provide the most comprehensive and authoritative source of information on compensation in the profession. It should prove to be an asset to practitioners and their employees in all major dietetics practice settings, as well as provide reference material for selfemployed nutrition and dietetics practitioners. A detailed electronic report of survey results is available through the Academy website. This comprehensive report details compensation for dozens of core registered dietitian nutritionist and nutrition and dietetics technician, registered, jobs, broken down by job title, region, education, experience, supervisory responsibility, and much more. Of particular interest to practitioners will be the interactive salary calculator, which offers the user an estimation of what practitioners with similar characteristics and in similar situations earn, on average. Access this resource (free to Academy members, for purchase by nonmembers) at www. eatrightPRO.org/salarysurvey.
R
ESULTS ARE IN FOR THE SEVenth edition of the most comprehensive survey of dietetics compensation available, and the news for most nutrition and dietetics practitioners is positive. The
This article was written by Dick Rogers of Readex Research, Stillwater, MN. His firm was responsible for design, execution, and reporting of the Academy’s Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2016.01.002
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Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015, sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy), shows that both registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs) experienced wage gains exceeding the rate of inflation since the 2013 survey. RDN median annualized wages are now at $63,700, up from $60,000 in 2013; NDTR median annualized wages have advanced to $42,000, from $40,000 2 years ago. Wage gains varied by specific dietetics position. The importance of increased education and job responsibility to increased compensation is apparent. And nutrition and dietetics practitioners continue to receive attractive benefits packages.
employment, which was purposely conceived broadly: A dietetics-related position is considered to be any position that requires or makes use of your education, training, and/or experience in nutrition or dietetics, including situations outside of “traditional” dietetics practice. By way of example, respondents were referred to an enclosure naming and briefly describing 59 core dietetics positions. These positions included not only “traditional” dietetics jobs such as Clinical Dietitian, Outpatient Dietitian, or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutritionist, but also jobs in such areas as consulting, sales, and communications.
PRACTITIONER PROFILE Dietetics Employment Trends
Dietetics Employment Defined 1
As in all prior administrations (2002, 2005,2 2007,3 20094 and 2011,5 and 20136), the survey sought to measure compensation for dietetics-related
Based on this definition of dieteticsrelated employment, 18% reported they are not currently employed or self-employed in a dietetics-related
About the Survey Over the years, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has received many requests from members for objective, reliable information about industry norms for pay and benefit levels for the dietetics profession. The Academy responded to members’ needs in 2002 by commissioning the Dietetics Compensation & Benefits Survey, the most comprehensive survey of its type in the profession up to that point. To continue to provide this valuable resource, the Academy has funded updates of that original extensive survey in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and now in 2015, building on the strengths of the initial effort and improving it with several refinements. The 2015 survey was conducted across a probability sample drawn from the population of all domestic active category Academy members (N¼51,909) plus all domestic nonmembers maintaining current registration as an RDN or NDTR (N¼42,277). To preserve confidentiality, an outside research firm was contracted to collect data via Internet and mail survey from June 4 through September 28, 2015. The 2015 survey carries forward a key feature of the prior efforts, presenting results not only at the level of registration (RDN, NDTR), but also in terms of the specific jobs (including nontraditional jobs) nutrition and dietetics practitioners hold. A key question asked respondents to identify the one position (from a set of 59 core positions) that most closely matched their actual employment. These data represent the specific jobs that account for an estimated 93% of dietetics employment. From the sample of 30,958, contacted via Internet and regular mail, 6,385 usable responses were received—a 21% response rate. The margin of error for the 4,555 practicing RDNs is 1.4%; for the 636 practicing NDTRs, 3.5%.
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ª 2016 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
PRACTICE APPLICATIONS Table 1. Prevalence of dietetics-related employment, from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015
RDNsa NDTRs
b
No. responding
% in dietetics
5,429
84
865
74
91
42
6,385
82
Non-registered professionals Total a
RDNs¼registered dietitian nutritionists. NDTRs¼nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered.
b
for-profit 32%
gov't 20%
non-profit 39% selfemployed 7%
Figure 1. Employment sector of nutrition and dietetics practitioners (n¼5,229), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
acute inpatient
23%
acute outpatient
1%
6%
LTC/ extended/ assisted
10%
ambulatory
7%
government agency/dept
26% 15%
1%
community/ public health
32%
10%
6% 6%
faculty
2% 0%
Who Are Nutrition and Dietetics Practitioners?
RDN NDTR
7% 10%
20%
30%
40%
Figure 2. Most prevalent work settings of practicing registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) (n¼4,555) and practicing nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs) (n¼636), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015. LTC¼long-term care.
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position. Among the small group of practitioners not currently registered as RDNs or NDTRs, that figure jumps to 58% (Table 1). Of the 18% not currently working in dietetics, half would like to/expect to work in dietetics in the future, and half do not expect to seek such work in the future. Three percent of all respondents indicated they had been let go from a dietetics-related job due to economic conditions (eg, staff reductions, facility closings) in the 12 months prior to the survey administration in summer 2015; that figure is 1 point lower than the 2013 measurement, and well below the 12% recorded in 2009 during the recession. Among those not currently employed in a dietetics-related position, primary causes include being at home raising a family (20%), changing career/profession (14%), and finding a higher-paying job outside of dietetics (12%). About one in nine (11%) indicated they have not been able to find dietetics employment, down 6 points from 2011, while 26% label themselves as retired, up 13 points in 4 years. Other reasons cited for nonemployment in the dietetics field were: promoted to a nonedieteticsrelated position (8%), relocated or in the process of relocating (4%), currently a student (3%), and disability/health problems (3%). The balance of the results discussed here reflect the 5,229 respondents who indicated they are currently employed or self-employed in a dietetics-related position—”practitioners.” Those who were employed or self-employed in more than one such position were asked to respond only for what they considered to be their primary dietetics-related position.
Ninety-five percent of practitioners are female, same as in 2013. Median age of practitioners is 49 years; 35% are 55 years or older, while 21% are under 35 years. Four percent indicated Hispanic heritage, and 9% indicated a race other than white (4% Asian, 4% Black/African American, and 1% other).
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS 40% 30%
25%
21%
18%
20% 10%
10%
11%
< 10
10 - 99
Table 4. Most prevalent positions among practicing NDTRsa (n¼636), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 14%
0% 100 - 999
1,000 4,999
5,000 24,999
25,000+
Figure 3. Size of organizations employing nutrition and dietetics practitioners (number of employees at all locations, n¼5,229), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
Table 2. Practice area of practicing RDNsa (n¼4,555) and practicing NDTRsb (n¼636), based on primary position selected, from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 RDNs (%)
NDTRs (%)
Clinical nutrition—acute care/inpatient
32
42
Clinical nutrition—ambulatory care
17
1
8
13
Clinical nutrition—long-term care Community
10
15
Food and nutrition management
11
17
Consultation and business
8
3
Education and research
7
1
a
RDNs¼registered dietitian nutritionists. NDTRs¼nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered.
b
Table 3. Most prevalent positions among practicing RDNsa (n¼4,555), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 Clinical dietitian Clinical dietitian, specialist—diabetes
16%
Dietetic technician, clinical
41%
Dietetic technician, long-term care
12%
WICb nutritionist
10%
Director of food and nutrition services
5%
Dietetic technician, foodservice management
9%
a
NDTRs¼nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered. WIC¼Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. b
Over half of practicing RDNs hold a graduate degree (48% master’s, 4% doctoral). A majority of NDTRs (57%) hold an associate’s degree as their highest degree, though with the advent of the Pathway III route to registration the proportion with a bachelor’s has climbed from 25% in 2009 to 39% in 2015. Two in three practicing RDNs (68%) are members of the Academy, as are 35% of practicing NDTRs. Forty percent of RDNs and 6% of NDTRs reported holding a state license/certification (not required in all states). The typical (median) practicing RDN has 19 years of work experience in dietetics/nutrition (excluding time taken off to return to school, raise a family, or work in other areas); the typical NDTR practitioner has 18 years of experience.
3%
Clinical dietitian, specialist—renal
4%
Where Do They Work?
Nutrition support dietitian
3%
Outpatient dietitian, general
5%
Outpatient dietitian, specialist—diabetes
4%
Seven percent of practitioners are selfemployed, 32% work at a for-profit firm, 39% at a non-profit, and 20% for government (Figure 1). Self-employment is more common among RDNs than NDTRs (8% vs 2%, respectively), while a greater proportion of NDTRs are found in nonprofit settings (38% of RDNs, 43% of NDTRs). These figures have not appreciably changed since the first study in 2002. The most common work setting for RDNs, indicated by about one in four (23%), is an inpatient acute-care facility.
Outpatient dietitian, specialist—renal
3%
Clinical dietitian, long-term care
8%
WICb nutritionist
5%
Public health nutritionist
3%
Director of food and nutrition services
4%
Clinical nutrition manager
3%
a
RDNs¼registered dietitian nutritionists. WIC¼Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
b
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS
other 53%
owner, partner 5%
exec, dir, mgr 24%
supervisor 17%
Figure 4. Responsibility level of nutrition and dietetics practitioners (n¼5,229), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
60%
60%
Fifteen percent reported working in an ambulatory/outpatient care facility (eg, clinic, physician’s office), followed by long-term, extended care, or assisted-living facility (eg, nursing home), at 10%. These top three settings employ almost half of all practicing RDNs. The other half work across numerous other settings, none indicated by more than 7%. The majority of NDTRs work in two settings: inpatient acute-care facilities (32%) or long-term, extended care, or assisted living facilities (26%). Ten percent work in a community or public health program. No other setting was indicated by more than 6% (Figure 2). The typical (median) practitioner works in a large organization, employing 1,480 people at all locations. RDNs tend to work in larger organizations than NDTRs (medians 1,654 and 788, respectively). These numbers have risen steadily for the last several surveys (Figure 3).
What Jobs Do Practitioners Hold? 40%
20%
14%
12%
8%
5%
0% none
1-2
3-9
10 - 49
50+
Figure 5. Number supervised directly and/or indirectly by nutrition and dietetics practitioners (n¼5,229), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
80%
74%
60% 40% 20%
7%
7%
10%
< $100K
$100 - $499K
$500K+
0% none
Figure 6. Budget responsibility of nutrition and dietetics practitioners (n¼5,229), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
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Respondents were asked to review a list of 59 core position titles and brief descriptions, and identify the one description that most closely matched their primary position, even if the job title differed from their own. Ninety-three percent of responding practitioners found a match; thus, the compensation data reported here represent the vast majority of dietetics employment situations. The 59 positions are grouped into seven distinct practice areas, with acute care/inpatient the most prevalent, and consultation/business and education/research the least (Table 2). Among RDNs, the most commonly held positions are found primarily in clinical and outpatient settings (Table 3). Among NDTRs, long-term care and foodservice settings are more prevalent (Table 4).
What Responsibilities Do Practitioners Have? Five percent of RDNs and 2% of NDTRs indicated they are owners of or partners in their practices.
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS reported in two ways: in terms of hourly wage, and in terms of total cash compensation (which includes not only salary but also earnings from overtime pay, on-call pay, commissions, bonuses, incentive pay, profit sharing or distributions, and cash retirement benefits received—frequently important compensation components for consultants, executives, and those in sales positions). Hourly wage is assessed for all answering respondents; total cash compensation is examined only for those working full time for at least one year in the position.
+6.1%
$22.00
2002
$23.80
2005
$25.48
$27.24
$27.88
2009
2011
2007
$28.85
2013
$30.62
2015
Figure 7. Registered dietitian nutritionist median wage n¼8,621 (2002), 8,017 (2005), 7,768 (2007), 6,587 (2009), 6,291 (2011), 6,048 (2013), and 4,160 (2015), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
Table 5. RDNa compensation at selected percentiles: hourly wage (n¼4,160), and total cash compensation for full-time employees in position at least 1 year (n¼3,010), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 Hourly wage
Total cash
10th percentile (10% earn less)
$21.67
$47,000
25th percentile (25% earn less)
$25.64
$55,000
50th percentile (50% earn less)
$30.62
$65,000
75th percentile (75% earn less)
$37.44
$80,000
90th percentile (90% earn less)
$47.12
$104,000
About one in four practitioners overall (24%) is an executive, director, or manager, and another 17% are supervisors or coordinators. Responsibility levels have changed little since the 2002 survey (Figure 4). Thirty-nine percent of RDNs and 42% of NDTRs reported they directly or indirectly supervise employees, percentages down somewhat from 2013. For those supervising, the median number supervised is eight for RDNs, and 13 for NDTRs (Figure 5). Twenty-five percent of RDNs and 22% of NDTRs reported managing a budget, similar to results from 2 years ago. Median budget size is $381,000
378
for RDNs and $272,000 for NDTRs, with 10% of RDNs and 7% of NDTRs managing budgets of $500,000 or more (Figure 6).
RDN Compensation One in four practicing RDNs (25%) works part-time and/or only part of the year. Seventy-five percent are employed full-time (as defined in the survey, 35 hours or more per week for 48 weeks or more per year), down two points from 77% in 2013. Because the prevalence of part-time employment can make salary comparisons difficult, compensation is
JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
Median Wages Up 6.1% Over 2 Years Among all RDNs in all positions, the median hourly wage as of April 1, 2015, was $30.62. If annualized (40 hours/ week52 weeks/yr), this equates to a full-time salary of $63,700 per year, up from $60,000 in 2013. Median total cash compensation for RDNs employed in the position full time for at least one year was $65,000. These results are higher than the most current Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates for Dietitians and Nutritionists, at $27.38 per hour, annualized at $57,000.7 Two factors help account for the discrepancy: these survey data are current as of April 1, 2015, nearly a year more current than the BLS estimate; and BLS does not restrict its estimate to registered dietitians. At $30.62, the median wage for all RDNs is up 6.1% from its value of $28.85 in the 2013 survey (Figure 7). The 6.1% increase in median wage since 2013 bests the prior 2-year gain of 3.5% reported in the last survey, and is substantially better than inflation during the period (1.7% change in the Consumer Price Index from April 2013 to April 20158). Further, an analysis of hourly wage estimates for 24 allied health occupations reported by BLS showed a 3.4% gain between May 2012 and May 2014.9 Both of these comparisons suggest that RDN compensation has more than kept pace with the economy as a whole in the past 2 years. Compensation spans a wide range for RDNs (Table 5). Helping to account for this range, a number of factors show strong
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS associations with RDN compensation. The exhibits that follow demonstrate the relationship between hourly wage and a number of variables. Note that all factors are based on respondent self-reports, and are, thus, subject to some variation in how terms were understood.
$50.00 $45.00
$40.00 $35.00 $30.00
$25.00
Qualifications Matter
$20.00
All RDNs
bachelor's
master's
doctorate
highest degree (any major)
No.
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
All RDNs
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
Bachelor's
2,001
$25.00
$28.85
$35.00
Master's
1,994
$26.44
$31.48
$38.46
165
$36.83
$44.23
$52.28
Doctorate
Figure 8. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by education level (highest degree earned). Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
member
not
Academy membership
No.
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
All RDNs
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
Academy member
2,804
$25.66
$31.25
$38.46
Not a member
1,356
$25.64
$29.81
$35.58
Figure 9. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by Academy membership. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
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Education beyond the bachelor’s degree continues to be associated with hourly wage gains. The difference between the median wage of RDNs with a bachelor’s as their highest degree (any major) and that of RDNs with a master’s degree (any major) is $2.63 per hour in 2015. (This differential was only $1.89 per hour in 2013.) Earning a PhD is associated with even greater gains; median earnings for those with a doctorate (at $44.23) are more than $15 per hour above RDNs with a bachelor’s degree (Figure 8). Historically, those with a state license earned somewhat less than those without, due mainly to the effects of the large nonlicensed pool of RDNs in California, a high-wage state. In 2015, that gap is modest, only $1.08 per hour. Holding one or more of the specialty certifications asked about continues to correlate with a similarly modest wage premium, though at $1.03 per hour that premium has diminished in recent years (from $2.54 in 2011). Highest median hourly wages are seen for those holding the certifications CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator) and CSG (Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition), with median hourly rates of $32.50 and $33.83, respectively.
Academy Membership As in previous surveys, results show a small positive association between Academy membership and RDN compensation; typical members earn $1.44 per hour more than nonmembers (Figure 9).
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS Experience and Responsibility Count, Too
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
<5
5-9
10 - 19
20+
years in field
No. All RDNs <5 5-9
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
537
$21.02
$24.04
$27.88
572
$24.04
$27.41
$32.21
10 -19
1,060
$26.92
$31.25
$37.62
20+
1,991
$28.85
$33.46
$40.38
Figure 10. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by experience (years in the field). Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
0
1-9
10-49
50-99
100+
number supervised
No.
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
All RDNs
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
0
2,465
$24.88
$28.85
$34.52
1-9
896
$26.44
$31.70
$38.46
10 -49
570
$28.85
$34.13
$40.87
50 -99
122
$34.62
$40.87
$49.64
90
$36.32
$45.43
$57.67
100+
Figure 11. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by number directly and/or indirectly supervised. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
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As would be expected, years of dietetics experience is strongly associated with compensation; those with 20 or more years of experience earn a median wage more than $9 per hour above those in the field under 5 years. Entry-level RDNs (less than 5 years in the field) saw their median wage rise $1.44 an hour in the past 2 years, from $22.60 in 2013 to $24.04 in 2015 (Figure 10). Supervisory responsibility is strongly associated with wage gains; those reporting direct and/or indirect supervision of 100 or more employees have a median hourly wage nearly 50% greater than the typical RDN. Those with no supervisory responsibility earn about 6% less than the typical RDN (Figure 11). Six in 10 RDNs report no supervisory authority; this represents a potential area of opportunity for increased earnings. Budget responsibility also correlates strongly with hourly wages, with gains increasing as budget size increases. Those responsible for budgets of $1 million or more earn a median hourly wage 46% greater than those with no budget responsibility (Figure 12). While 40% of practicing RDNs have some supervisory responsibility, only a quarter (25%) manage budgets. Acquiring budget responsibility represents another possible growth opportunity for RDNs. As in 2013, subjectively assessed nutritional risk of the majority of patients/clients seen shows little correlation with wages, with the median amount being about the same for those working mostly with high-risk patients ($29.81 per hour) vs those working mostly with lower risk patients ($29.07 per hour). However, RDNs who do not see patients/clients earn substantially more than those who do, earning a median wage $9 per hour higher. This is due primarily to those not seeing patients/clients having other characteristics that correlate with higher wages; eg, being faculty members or consultants, being involved in management and supervisory functions, and having budget authority (Figure 13).
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS Where You Work Makes a Difference
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00 $30.00
$25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
does not apply
<$100K
$100K$499K
$500K$999K
$1M+
budget responsibility
Percentiles 50th 75th
No.
25th
All RDNs
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
Does not apply
3,069
$25.00
$29.33
$34.88
<$100,000
302
$25.00
$30.05
$38.37
$100,000-$499,999
276
$27.88
$34.41
$42.02
$500,000-$999,999
147
$31.25
$36.54
$43.27
$1 million or more
326
$34.62
$42.79
$53.12
Figure 12. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by budget responsibility. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
Hourly wages tend to be highest in the practice areas of food and nutrition management, consultation and business, and education and research. Wages tend to be lowest in the areas of clinical nutrition-inpatient and community nutrition (Figure 14). Regarding wages by employment sector, those who are self-employed earn the highest median hourly wages ($36.44) followed by those employed in government ($31.73). Those working at for-profit or nonprofit institutions earn less, at $30.05 and $29.81 per hour, respectively. The ordering of these results is similar to that seen in past years (Figure 15). RDN compensation varies to some degree according to location. In terms of the nine standard Census Divisions, RDNs on the coasts (in New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Pacific states) earn median wages higher than $30 per hour; those in the middle of the country (East and West North and South Central) earn less than $30 (Figure 16).
NDTR Compensation Eighty-one percent of NDTRs work full time as defined in this report (35 hours or more per week for 48 weeks per year or more), down four points from 2013, but up six points from the baseline measurement of 75% in 2002.
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
Median NDTR Wages also Growing
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
high risk
< high risk
do not see
nutritional risk of majority of patients
No.
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
All RDNs
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
Most high risk
1,043
$25.74
$29.81
$35.10
Most < high risk
2,333
$24.95
$29.07
$35.00
738
$31.95
$38.80
$48.31
Do not see patients/clients
Figure 13. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by patient/client responsibility. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
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Among all NDTRs in all positions, the median hourly wage as of April 1, 2015, was $20.19 per hour; if annualized, this equates to a salary of $42,000 per year. Median total cash compensation for NDTRs employed in the position full time for at least 1 year was $43,400. As with RDNs, these current survey estimates are higher than those published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2014 median¼$12.39, annualized at $25,800).10 Two factors help account for the discrepancy: these survey data are current as of April 1, 2015, nearly a year more current than the BLS estimate; and BLS does not restrict its estimate to registered dietetic technicians.
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS $50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
inpt
outpt
LTC
comm mgmt
bus
edu
practice area of primary position
No.
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
All RDNs
4,160 $25.64 $30.62 $37.44
Inpatient
1,343 $24.70 $28.80 $32.81
NDTR median wage is up 5.0% from 2013, well exceeding the 1.7% inflation increase during that time (Figure 17). Like RDNs, NDTR compensation also spans a considerable range (Table 6). Major factors associated with NDTR compensation levels are the same as for RDNs: education, experience, responsibility, and location. The practice area of food and nutrition management appears to hold the greatest promise for NDTRs, with a median wage of $24.10. As with RDN compensation, median NDTR wages do vary somewhat by location. Median wage for those in the Pacific states is nearly $4 per hour above the national figure; those in the Mountain states earn $2 less.
Outpatient/ ambulatory care
720 $26.36 $30.00 $34.62
Long-term care
313 $25.00 $29.00 $35.00
Academy Membership
Community
419 $22.56 $26.92 $32.45
Food and nutrition management
493 $32.21 $37.50 $46.73
Consultation and business
326 $29.23 $37.02 $48.32
As with RDNs, Academy membership is associated with higher compensation levels for NDTRs. The differential in median hourly wage in 2015 is $1.91 per hour ($3,970 annualized).
Education and research
268 $32.01 $38.46 $46.23
LEADERS AND LAGGARDS
Figure 14. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by practice area of primary position. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
self
for-profit
non-profit
gov't
employment sector
No. All RDNs
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
277
$25.64
$36.44
$48.08
For -profit
1,345
$25.96
$30.05
$36.06
Nonprofit (other than government)
1,604
$25.48
$29.81
$36.06
Government
850
$25.48
$31.73
$38.46
Self -employed
Figure 15. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by employment sector. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015. March 2016 Volume 116 Number 3
A great strength of these compensation surveys is that they present wage data not only for RDNs and NDTRs as a whole, but also in terms of the specific jobs (including nontraditional jobs) nutrition and dietetics practitioners hold. The highest-paying nonacademic positions held by substantial numbers of RDNs are shown in Table 7. The highest-paying positions held by substantial numbers of NDTRs are shown in Table 8. Table 9 shows the percentage change in median wage for each position with a minimum of 80 reporting cases in both 2013 and 2015. Note that the lower the tabulation base, the greater the statistical variability. Faring above the average increase for all RDNs, and well above the 1.7% Consumer Price Index inflation rate, are three positions: pediatric/neonatal dietitian, private practice dietitian, and nutrition support dietitian. Lagging inflation with no change from 2013 are dietetic technician, clinical, and WIC nutritionist. Public health nutritionist actually lost ground in nominal terms, with a median wage down 1.9% from 2013.
BENEFITS Although many are employed part-time, nutrition and dietetics practitioners as
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS $50.00 $45.00 $40.00
$35.00 $30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
New England
Middle Atlantic
EN Central
WN Central
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00 $30.00
$25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
South Atl
ES Central
WS Central
Mountain
Pacific
location (Census Division)
No. All RDNs
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
New England
261
$28.85
$34.29
$40.38
Middle Atlantic
546
$26.94
$32.02
$38.46
East North Central
772
$24.52
$28.85
$34.10
West North Central
411
$24.00
$28.85
$33.65
South Atlantic
685
$25.22
$30.22
$36.82
East South Central
253
$24.02
$27.89
$33.65
West South Central
397
$25.48
$29.23
$36.02
Mountain
249
$25.48
$30.00
$35.58
Pacific
586
$30.46
$36.00
$43.27
Figure 16. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by location (Census Divisions). Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
a group are offered considerable benefits packages through their employers (Table 10).
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Eight in 10 practitioners (84%) reported their employers offer them some type of retirement benefit
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(whether they take advantage of it or not). This figure is essentially unchanged from 2011, though the proportion being offered a defined benefit plan (pension) has plummeted from 36% to 24%. In 2015, 63% of employers offer a defined contribution plan (eg, 401[k]) to which they contribute, and another 11% such a plan without employer contribution. These results are similar to 2 years ago. Results regarding a range of hazard and health insurances were mostly similar to those seen in 2013. A majority of practitioners are offered the following: life insurance, disability insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, medical coverage for themselves and dependents, dental coverage for themselves and dependents, a prescription drug benefit, vision insurance, and a health care reimbursement or flexible spending account. The proportions of employers contributing toward those coverages, however, are significantly lower. Results for a long list of other benefits, including paid time off and professional/career development items, were also quite similar to those seen in 2013. Eighty-five percent of practitioners are offered some form of paid time off, including 81% offered paid vacation/ personal time off (PTO), 72% paid holidays, and 67% paid sick days (often incorporated in PTO). About three-quarters (72%) are offered one or more of the benefits classified as “professional/career development,” led by funding/time off for professional development, and college tuition for employees. Eighty-eight percent are offered one or more of a variety of “quality of work life” benefits, led by on-site parking, employee assistance programs, wellness programs, unpaid personal leave, and a fitness benefit (eg, discounted health club membership, on-site facilities). Very few employers are offering child care, adoption assistance, or tuition assistance for dependents.
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS CONCLUSION +5.0%
$16.35
$18.75
$19.23
$19.23
2009
2011
2013
$20.19
$17.31
$14.74
2002
2005
2007
2015
Figure 17. Nutrition and dietetics technician, registered (NDTR) median wage n¼1,397 (2002), 1,115 (2005), 1,057 (2007), 780 (2009), 759 (2011), 747 (2013), and 562 (2015), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
In underwriting the Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015, the Academy has provided a comprehensive and current resource to help nutrition and dietetics practitioners better manage their responsibilities and their careers. This survey provides valuable perspectives on how specific dietetics jobs are compensated, shows how a variety of factors relate to compensation levels, and identifies important trends. The Academy plans to periodically update the survey and actively seeks suggestions for its improvement. With the help and participation of nutrition and dietetics practitioners, future surveys will continue to serve as an valuable asset to the profession.
Table 6. NDTRa compensation at selected percentiles: hourly wage (n¼562), and total cash compensation for full-time employees in position at least 1 year (n¼437), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 Hourly wage
Total cash
10th percentile (10% earn less)
$13.94
$30,000
25th percentile (25% earn less)
$16.83
$37,800
50th percentile (50% earn less)
$20.19
$43,400
75th percentile (75% earn less)
$24.52
$53,000
90th percentile (90% earn less)
$29.79
$63,000
a
NDTR¼nutrition and dietetics technician, registered.
Table 7. Highest-paying positions for RDNsa, from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 Median hourly wage Executive-level professional
$50.24
Director of clinical nutrition
$39.90
Sales representative
$39.18
Research dietitian
$37.74
Director of food and nutrition services
$37.02
School foodservice director
$36.06
Clinical nutrition manager
$34.72
Consultant—community and/or corporate programs
$33.84
Corporate dietitian
$33.23
Assistant foodservice director
$32.93
a
RDNs¼registered dietitian nutritionists.
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS Table 8. Highest-paying positions for NDTRsa, from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 Median hourly wage WICb nutritionist
$24.04
Dietetic technician, foodservice management
$20.19
Dietetic technician, long-term care
$20.05
Dietetic technician, clinical
$19.23
a
NDTRs¼nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered. WIC¼Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
b
Table 9. Percent change in median hourly wage 2013-2015 for selected dietetics positions (reported by 80 or more respondents), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 % Change 2015/2013
2015 base
Pediatric/neonatal dietitian
9.1%
106
Private practice dietitian—patient/client nutrition care
7.3%
86
Nutrition support dietitian
6.9%
118
All RDNsa
6.1%
4,160
Clinical dietitian, specialist—diabetes
6.1%
103
Clinical dietitian
5.5%
667
All NDTRsb
5.0%
562
Outpatient dietitian, general
4.9%
192
Outpatient dietitian, specialist—diabetes
4.8%
149
Outpatient dietitian, specialist—renal
4.3%
138
Clinical dietitian, specialist—renal
4.0%
185
Clinical dietitian, long-term care
3.6%
320
Clinical nutrition manager
3.2%
116
Director of food and nutrition services
2.7%
225
Inflation (CPIc)
1.7%
Dietetic technician, clinical
0.0%
233
WICd nutritionist
0.0%
280
1.9%
119
Public health nutritionist a
RDNs¼registered dietitian nutritionists. NDTRs¼nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered. c CPI¼Consumer Price Index. d WIC¼Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. b
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS Table 10. Prevalence of benefits offered to nutrition and dietetics practitioners (n¼5,229) as part of employment/selfemployment, from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 % offered NETa: any retirement benefit
84%
Defined benefit retirement plan (pension)
24%
Defined contribution plan
74%
Life insurance
78%
Disability insurance (long- and/or short-term)
75%
Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
63%
Long-term care insurance
45%
Business travel insurance
19%
High-deductible medical insurance—for employees
57%
High-deductible medical insurance—for dependents
56%
Lower-deductible medical insurance or managed care plan—for employees
68%
Lower-deductible medical insurance or managed care plan—for dependents
66%
Dental insurance or group plan—for employees
81%
Dental insurance or group plan—for dependents
76%
Prescription drug benefit
75%
Vision insurance or group plan
77%
Health care reimbursement or flexible spending account
71%
Retiree medical coverage
30%
NET: paid time off
85%
NET: benefits related to professional/career development
72%
NET: other benefits related to quality of work life
88%
a
NET¼percentage indicating one or more items in category.
References 1.
2.
Rogers D. Dietetics salaries on the rise. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106(2):296-305.
3.
Rogers D. Compensation & Benefits Survey 2007: Above-average pay gains seen for registered dietitians. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008;108(3):416-427.
4.
5.
Rogers D. Salary Survey Working Group. Report on the ADA 2002 Dietetics Compensation and Benefits Survey. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103(2): 243-255.
Ward B. Compensation & Benefits Survey 2009: Despite overall downturn in economy, RDN and NDTR salaries rise. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(1):25-36.
Ward B. Compensation & Benefits Survey 2011: Moderate growth in registered dietitian and dietetic technician, registered, compensation in the past 2 years. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112(1): 29-40.
6.
Rogers D. Compensation & Benefits Survey 2013: Education and job responsibility key to increased compensation. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114(1):17-33.
7.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2014: 29-1031 Dietitians and Nutritionists. www.bls.gov/oes/current/ oes291031.htm. Accessed 10/17/2015.
8.
US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index—All
Urban Consumers. http://data.bls.gov/cgibin/surveymost?cu. Accessed January 25, 2016. 9.
US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics. May 2014 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates United States. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. http://www.bls.gov/oes/ current/oes_nat.htm#29-0000. Accessed October 17, 2015.
10.
US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2014: 29-2051 Dietetic Technicians. www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292 051.htm. Accessed October 17, 2015.
AUTHOR INFORMATION Address correspondence to: Dick Rogers, Readex Research, 2251 Tower Drive West, Stillwater, MN 55082. E-mail: [email protected]
DISCLOSURES STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
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March 2016 Volume 116 Number 3
Topics of Professional Interest
Compensation and Benefits Survey 2015 Editor’s Note: The Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession continues to provide the most comprehensive and authoritative source of information on compensation in the profession. It should prove to be an asset to practitioners and their employees in all major dietetics practice settings, as well as provide reference material for selfemployed nutrition and dietetics practitioners. A detailed electronic report of survey results is available through the Academy website. This comprehensive report details compensation for dozens of core registered dietitian nutritionist and nutrition and dietetics technician, registered, jobs, broken down by job title, region, education, experience, supervisory responsibility, and much more. Of particular interest to practitioners will be the interactive salary calculator, which offers the user an estimation of what practitioners with similar characteristics and in similar situations earn, on average. Access this resource (free to Academy members, for purchase by nonmembers) at www. eatrightPRO.org/salarysurvey.
R
ESULTS ARE IN FOR THE SEVenth edition of the most comprehensive survey of dietetics compensation available, and the news for most nutrition and dietetics practitioners is positive. The
This article was written by Dick Rogers of Readex Research, Stillwater, MN. His firm was responsible for design, execution, and reporting of the Academy’s Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2016.01.002
370
Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015, sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy), shows that both registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs) experienced wage gains exceeding the rate of inflation since the 2013 survey. RDN median annualized wages are now at $63,700, up from $60,000 in 2013; NDTR median annualized wages have advanced to $42,000, from $40,000 2 years ago. Wage gains varied by specific dietetics position. The importance of increased education and job responsibility to increased compensation is apparent. And nutrition and dietetics practitioners continue to receive attractive benefits packages.
employment, which was purposely conceived broadly: A dietetics-related position is considered to be any position that requires or makes use of your education, training, and/or experience in nutrition or dietetics, including situations outside of “traditional” dietetics practice. By way of example, respondents were referred to an enclosure naming and briefly describing 59 core dietetics positions. These positions included not only “traditional” dietetics jobs such as Clinical Dietitian, Outpatient Dietitian, or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutritionist, but also jobs in such areas as consulting, sales, and communications.
PRACTITIONER PROFILE Dietetics Employment Trends
Dietetics Employment Defined 1
As in all prior administrations (2002, 2005,2 2007,3 20094 and 2011,5 and 20136), the survey sought to measure compensation for dietetics-related
Based on this definition of dieteticsrelated employment, 18% reported they are not currently employed or self-employed in a dietetics-related
About the Survey Over the years, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has received many requests from members for objective, reliable information about industry norms for pay and benefit levels for the dietetics profession. The Academy responded to members’ needs in 2002 by commissioning the Dietetics Compensation & Benefits Survey, the most comprehensive survey of its type in the profession up to that point. To continue to provide this valuable resource, the Academy has funded updates of that original extensive survey in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and now in 2015, building on the strengths of the initial effort and improving it with several refinements. The 2015 survey was conducted across a probability sample drawn from the population of all domestic active category Academy members (N¼51,909) plus all domestic nonmembers maintaining current registration as an RDN or NDTR (N¼42,277). To preserve confidentiality, an outside research firm was contracted to collect data via Internet and mail survey from June 4 through September 28, 2015. The 2015 survey carries forward a key feature of the prior efforts, presenting results not only at the level of registration (RDN, NDTR), but also in terms of the specific jobs (including nontraditional jobs) nutrition and dietetics practitioners hold. A key question asked respondents to identify the one position (from a set of 59 core positions) that most closely matched their actual employment. These data represent the specific jobs that account for an estimated 93% of dietetics employment. From the sample of 30,958, contacted via Internet and regular mail, 6,385 usable responses were received—a 21% response rate. The margin of error for the 4,555 practicing RDNs is 1.4%; for the 636 practicing NDTRs, 3.5%.
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ª 2016 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
PRACTICE APPLICATIONS Table 1. Prevalence of dietetics-related employment, from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015
RDNsa NDTRs
b
No. responding
% in dietetics
5,429
84
865
74
91
42
6,385
82
Non-registered professionals Total a
RDNs¼registered dietitian nutritionists. NDTRs¼nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered.
b
for-profit 32%
gov't 20%
non-profit 39% selfemployed 7%
Figure 1. Employment sector of nutrition and dietetics practitioners (n¼5,229), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
acute inpatient
23%
acute outpatient
1%
6%
LTC/ extended/ assisted
10%
ambulatory
7%
government agency/dept
26% 15%
1%
community/ public health
32%
10%
6% 6%
faculty
2% 0%
Who Are Nutrition and Dietetics Practitioners?
RDN NDTR
7% 10%
20%
30%
40%
Figure 2. Most prevalent work settings of practicing registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) (n¼4,555) and practicing nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs) (n¼636), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015. LTC¼long-term care.
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position. Among the small group of practitioners not currently registered as RDNs or NDTRs, that figure jumps to 58% (Table 1). Of the 18% not currently working in dietetics, half would like to/expect to work in dietetics in the future, and half do not expect to seek such work in the future. Three percent of all respondents indicated they had been let go from a dietetics-related job due to economic conditions (eg, staff reductions, facility closings) in the 12 months prior to the survey administration in summer 2015; that figure is 1 point lower than the 2013 measurement, and well below the 12% recorded in 2009 during the recession. Among those not currently employed in a dietetics-related position, primary causes include being at home raising a family (20%), changing career/profession (14%), and finding a higher-paying job outside of dietetics (12%). About one in nine (11%) indicated they have not been able to find dietetics employment, down 6 points from 2011, while 26% label themselves as retired, up 13 points in 4 years. Other reasons cited for nonemployment in the dietetics field were: promoted to a nonedieteticsrelated position (8%), relocated or in the process of relocating (4%), currently a student (3%), and disability/health problems (3%). The balance of the results discussed here reflect the 5,229 respondents who indicated they are currently employed or self-employed in a dietetics-related position—”practitioners.” Those who were employed or self-employed in more than one such position were asked to respond only for what they considered to be their primary dietetics-related position.
Ninety-five percent of practitioners are female, same as in 2013. Median age of practitioners is 49 years; 35% are 55 years or older, while 21% are under 35 years. Four percent indicated Hispanic heritage, and 9% indicated a race other than white (4% Asian, 4% Black/African American, and 1% other).
March 2016 Volume 116 Number 3
PRACTICE APPLICATIONS 40% 30%
25%
21%
18%
20% 10%
10%
11%
< 10
10 - 99
Table 4. Most prevalent positions among practicing NDTRsa (n¼636), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 14%
0% 100 - 999
1,000 4,999
5,000 24,999
25,000+
Figure 3. Size of organizations employing nutrition and dietetics practitioners (number of employees at all locations, n¼5,229), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
Table 2. Practice area of practicing RDNsa (n¼4,555) and practicing NDTRsb (n¼636), based on primary position selected, from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 RDNs (%)
NDTRs (%)
Clinical nutrition—acute care/inpatient
32
42
Clinical nutrition—ambulatory care
17
1
8
13
Clinical nutrition—long-term care Community
10
15
Food and nutrition management
11
17
Consultation and business
8
3
Education and research
7
1
a
RDNs¼registered dietitian nutritionists. NDTRs¼nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered.
b
Table 3. Most prevalent positions among practicing RDNsa (n¼4,555), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 Clinical dietitian Clinical dietitian, specialist—diabetes
16%
Dietetic technician, clinical
41%
Dietetic technician, long-term care
12%
WICb nutritionist
10%
Director of food and nutrition services
5%
Dietetic technician, foodservice management
9%
a
NDTRs¼nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered. WIC¼Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. b
Over half of practicing RDNs hold a graduate degree (48% master’s, 4% doctoral). A majority of NDTRs (57%) hold an associate’s degree as their highest degree, though with the advent of the Pathway III route to registration the proportion with a bachelor’s has climbed from 25% in 2009 to 39% in 2015. Two in three practicing RDNs (68%) are members of the Academy, as are 35% of practicing NDTRs. Forty percent of RDNs and 6% of NDTRs reported holding a state license/certification (not required in all states). The typical (median) practicing RDN has 19 years of work experience in dietetics/nutrition (excluding time taken off to return to school, raise a family, or work in other areas); the typical NDTR practitioner has 18 years of experience.
3%
Clinical dietitian, specialist—renal
4%
Where Do They Work?
Nutrition support dietitian
3%
Outpatient dietitian, general
5%
Outpatient dietitian, specialist—diabetes
4%
Seven percent of practitioners are selfemployed, 32% work at a for-profit firm, 39% at a non-profit, and 20% for government (Figure 1). Self-employment is more common among RDNs than NDTRs (8% vs 2%, respectively), while a greater proportion of NDTRs are found in nonprofit settings (38% of RDNs, 43% of NDTRs). These figures have not appreciably changed since the first study in 2002. The most common work setting for RDNs, indicated by about one in four (23%), is an inpatient acute-care facility.
Outpatient dietitian, specialist—renal
3%
Clinical dietitian, long-term care
8%
WICb nutritionist
5%
Public health nutritionist
3%
Director of food and nutrition services
4%
Clinical nutrition manager
3%
a
RDNs¼registered dietitian nutritionists. WIC¼Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
b
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS
other 53%
owner, partner 5%
exec, dir, mgr 24%
supervisor 17%
Figure 4. Responsibility level of nutrition and dietetics practitioners (n¼5,229), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
60%
60%
Fifteen percent reported working in an ambulatory/outpatient care facility (eg, clinic, physician’s office), followed by long-term, extended care, or assisted-living facility (eg, nursing home), at 10%. These top three settings employ almost half of all practicing RDNs. The other half work across numerous other settings, none indicated by more than 7%. The majority of NDTRs work in two settings: inpatient acute-care facilities (32%) or long-term, extended care, or assisted living facilities (26%). Ten percent work in a community or public health program. No other setting was indicated by more than 6% (Figure 2). The typical (median) practitioner works in a large organization, employing 1,480 people at all locations. RDNs tend to work in larger organizations than NDTRs (medians 1,654 and 788, respectively). These numbers have risen steadily for the last several surveys (Figure 3).
What Jobs Do Practitioners Hold? 40%
20%
14%
12%
8%
5%
0% none
1-2
3-9
10 - 49
50+
Figure 5. Number supervised directly and/or indirectly by nutrition and dietetics practitioners (n¼5,229), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
80%
74%
60% 40% 20%
7%
7%
10%
< $100K
$100 - $499K
$500K+
0% none
Figure 6. Budget responsibility of nutrition and dietetics practitioners (n¼5,229), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
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Respondents were asked to review a list of 59 core position titles and brief descriptions, and identify the one description that most closely matched their primary position, even if the job title differed from their own. Ninety-three percent of responding practitioners found a match; thus, the compensation data reported here represent the vast majority of dietetics employment situations. The 59 positions are grouped into seven distinct practice areas, with acute care/inpatient the most prevalent, and consultation/business and education/research the least (Table 2). Among RDNs, the most commonly held positions are found primarily in clinical and outpatient settings (Table 3). Among NDTRs, long-term care and foodservice settings are more prevalent (Table 4).
What Responsibilities Do Practitioners Have? Five percent of RDNs and 2% of NDTRs indicated they are owners of or partners in their practices.
March 2016 Volume 116 Number 3
PRACTICE APPLICATIONS reported in two ways: in terms of hourly wage, and in terms of total cash compensation (which includes not only salary but also earnings from overtime pay, on-call pay, commissions, bonuses, incentive pay, profit sharing or distributions, and cash retirement benefits received—frequently important compensation components for consultants, executives, and those in sales positions). Hourly wage is assessed for all answering respondents; total cash compensation is examined only for those working full time for at least one year in the position.
+6.1%
$22.00
2002
$23.80
2005
$25.48
$27.24
$27.88
2009
2011
2007
$28.85
2013
$30.62
2015
Figure 7. Registered dietitian nutritionist median wage n¼8,621 (2002), 8,017 (2005), 7,768 (2007), 6,587 (2009), 6,291 (2011), 6,048 (2013), and 4,160 (2015), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
Table 5. RDNa compensation at selected percentiles: hourly wage (n¼4,160), and total cash compensation for full-time employees in position at least 1 year (n¼3,010), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 Hourly wage
Total cash
10th percentile (10% earn less)
$21.67
$47,000
25th percentile (25% earn less)
$25.64
$55,000
50th percentile (50% earn less)
$30.62
$65,000
75th percentile (75% earn less)
$37.44
$80,000
90th percentile (90% earn less)
$47.12
$104,000
About one in four practitioners overall (24%) is an executive, director, or manager, and another 17% are supervisors or coordinators. Responsibility levels have changed little since the 2002 survey (Figure 4). Thirty-nine percent of RDNs and 42% of NDTRs reported they directly or indirectly supervise employees, percentages down somewhat from 2013. For those supervising, the median number supervised is eight for RDNs, and 13 for NDTRs (Figure 5). Twenty-five percent of RDNs and 22% of NDTRs reported managing a budget, similar to results from 2 years ago. Median budget size is $381,000
378
for RDNs and $272,000 for NDTRs, with 10% of RDNs and 7% of NDTRs managing budgets of $500,000 or more (Figure 6).
RDN Compensation One in four practicing RDNs (25%) works part-time and/or only part of the year. Seventy-five percent are employed full-time (as defined in the survey, 35 hours or more per week for 48 weeks or more per year), down two points from 77% in 2013. Because the prevalence of part-time employment can make salary comparisons difficult, compensation is
JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
Median Wages Up 6.1% Over 2 Years Among all RDNs in all positions, the median hourly wage as of April 1, 2015, was $30.62. If annualized (40 hours/ week52 weeks/yr), this equates to a full-time salary of $63,700 per year, up from $60,000 in 2013. Median total cash compensation for RDNs employed in the position full time for at least one year was $65,000. These results are higher than the most current Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates for Dietitians and Nutritionists, at $27.38 per hour, annualized at $57,000.7 Two factors help account for the discrepancy: these survey data are current as of April 1, 2015, nearly a year more current than the BLS estimate; and BLS does not restrict its estimate to registered dietitians. At $30.62, the median wage for all RDNs is up 6.1% from its value of $28.85 in the 2013 survey (Figure 7). The 6.1% increase in median wage since 2013 bests the prior 2-year gain of 3.5% reported in the last survey, and is substantially better than inflation during the period (1.7% change in the Consumer Price Index from April 2013 to April 20158). Further, an analysis of hourly wage estimates for 24 allied health occupations reported by BLS showed a 3.4% gain between May 2012 and May 2014.9 Both of these comparisons suggest that RDN compensation has more than kept pace with the economy as a whole in the past 2 years. Compensation spans a wide range for RDNs (Table 5). Helping to account for this range, a number of factors show strong
March 2016 Volume 116 Number 3
PRACTICE APPLICATIONS associations with RDN compensation. The exhibits that follow demonstrate the relationship between hourly wage and a number of variables. Note that all factors are based on respondent self-reports, and are, thus, subject to some variation in how terms were understood.
$50.00 $45.00
$40.00 $35.00 $30.00
$25.00
Qualifications Matter
$20.00
All RDNs
bachelor's
master's
doctorate
highest degree (any major)
No.
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
All RDNs
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
Bachelor's
2,001
$25.00
$28.85
$35.00
Master's
1,994
$26.44
$31.48
$38.46
165
$36.83
$44.23
$52.28
Doctorate
Figure 8. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by education level (highest degree earned). Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
member
not
Academy membership
No.
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
All RDNs
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
Academy member
2,804
$25.66
$31.25
$38.46
Not a member
1,356
$25.64
$29.81
$35.58
Figure 9. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by Academy membership. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
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Education beyond the bachelor’s degree continues to be associated with hourly wage gains. The difference between the median wage of RDNs with a bachelor’s as their highest degree (any major) and that of RDNs with a master’s degree (any major) is $2.63 per hour in 2015. (This differential was only $1.89 per hour in 2013.) Earning a PhD is associated with even greater gains; median earnings for those with a doctorate (at $44.23) are more than $15 per hour above RDNs with a bachelor’s degree (Figure 8). Historically, those with a state license earned somewhat less than those without, due mainly to the effects of the large nonlicensed pool of RDNs in California, a high-wage state. In 2015, that gap is modest, only $1.08 per hour. Holding one or more of the specialty certifications asked about continues to correlate with a similarly modest wage premium, though at $1.03 per hour that premium has diminished in recent years (from $2.54 in 2011). Highest median hourly wages are seen for those holding the certifications CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator) and CSG (Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition), with median hourly rates of $32.50 and $33.83, respectively.
Academy Membership As in previous surveys, results show a small positive association between Academy membership and RDN compensation; typical members earn $1.44 per hour more than nonmembers (Figure 9).
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS Experience and Responsibility Count, Too
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
<5
5-9
10 - 19
20+
years in field
No. All RDNs <5 5-9
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
537
$21.02
$24.04
$27.88
572
$24.04
$27.41
$32.21
10 -19
1,060
$26.92
$31.25
$37.62
20+
1,991
$28.85
$33.46
$40.38
Figure 10. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by experience (years in the field). Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
0
1-9
10-49
50-99
100+
number supervised
No.
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
All RDNs
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
0
2,465
$24.88
$28.85
$34.52
1-9
896
$26.44
$31.70
$38.46
10 -49
570
$28.85
$34.13
$40.87
50 -99
122
$34.62
$40.87
$49.64
90
$36.32
$45.43
$57.67
100+
Figure 11. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by number directly and/or indirectly supervised. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
March 2016 Volume 116 Number 3
As would be expected, years of dietetics experience is strongly associated with compensation; those with 20 or more years of experience earn a median wage more than $9 per hour above those in the field under 5 years. Entry-level RDNs (less than 5 years in the field) saw their median wage rise $1.44 an hour in the past 2 years, from $22.60 in 2013 to $24.04 in 2015 (Figure 10). Supervisory responsibility is strongly associated with wage gains; those reporting direct and/or indirect supervision of 100 or more employees have a median hourly wage nearly 50% greater than the typical RDN. Those with no supervisory responsibility earn about 6% less than the typical RDN (Figure 11). Six in 10 RDNs report no supervisory authority; this represents a potential area of opportunity for increased earnings. Budget responsibility also correlates strongly with hourly wages, with gains increasing as budget size increases. Those responsible for budgets of $1 million or more earn a median hourly wage 46% greater than those with no budget responsibility (Figure 12). While 40% of practicing RDNs have some supervisory responsibility, only a quarter (25%) manage budgets. Acquiring budget responsibility represents another possible growth opportunity for RDNs. As in 2013, subjectively assessed nutritional risk of the majority of patients/clients seen shows little correlation with wages, with the median amount being about the same for those working mostly with high-risk patients ($29.81 per hour) vs those working mostly with lower risk patients ($29.07 per hour). However, RDNs who do not see patients/clients earn substantially more than those who do, earning a median wage $9 per hour higher. This is due primarily to those not seeing patients/clients having other characteristics that correlate with higher wages; eg, being faculty members or consultants, being involved in management and supervisory functions, and having budget authority (Figure 13).
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS Where You Work Makes a Difference
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00 $30.00
$25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
does not apply
<$100K
$100K$499K
$500K$999K
$1M+
budget responsibility
Percentiles 50th 75th
No.
25th
All RDNs
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
Does not apply
3,069
$25.00
$29.33
$34.88
<$100,000
302
$25.00
$30.05
$38.37
$100,000-$499,999
276
$27.88
$34.41
$42.02
$500,000-$999,999
147
$31.25
$36.54
$43.27
$1 million or more
326
$34.62
$42.79
$53.12
Figure 12. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by budget responsibility. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
Hourly wages tend to be highest in the practice areas of food and nutrition management, consultation and business, and education and research. Wages tend to be lowest in the areas of clinical nutrition-inpatient and community nutrition (Figure 14). Regarding wages by employment sector, those who are self-employed earn the highest median hourly wages ($36.44) followed by those employed in government ($31.73). Those working at for-profit or nonprofit institutions earn less, at $30.05 and $29.81 per hour, respectively. The ordering of these results is similar to that seen in past years (Figure 15). RDN compensation varies to some degree according to location. In terms of the nine standard Census Divisions, RDNs on the coasts (in New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Pacific states) earn median wages higher than $30 per hour; those in the middle of the country (East and West North and South Central) earn less than $30 (Figure 16).
NDTR Compensation Eighty-one percent of NDTRs work full time as defined in this report (35 hours or more per week for 48 weeks per year or more), down four points from 2013, but up six points from the baseline measurement of 75% in 2002.
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
Median NDTR Wages also Growing
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
high risk
< high risk
do not see
nutritional risk of majority of patients
No.
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
All RDNs
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
Most high risk
1,043
$25.74
$29.81
$35.10
Most < high risk
2,333
$24.95
$29.07
$35.00
738
$31.95
$38.80
$48.31
Do not see patients/clients
Figure 13. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by patient/client responsibility. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
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Among all NDTRs in all positions, the median hourly wage as of April 1, 2015, was $20.19 per hour; if annualized, this equates to a salary of $42,000 per year. Median total cash compensation for NDTRs employed in the position full time for at least 1 year was $43,400. As with RDNs, these current survey estimates are higher than those published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2014 median¼$12.39, annualized at $25,800).10 Two factors help account for the discrepancy: these survey data are current as of April 1, 2015, nearly a year more current than the BLS estimate; and BLS does not restrict its estimate to registered dietetic technicians.
March 2016 Volume 116 Number 3
PRACTICE APPLICATIONS $50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
inpt
outpt
LTC
comm mgmt
bus
edu
practice area of primary position
No.
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
All RDNs
4,160 $25.64 $30.62 $37.44
Inpatient
1,343 $24.70 $28.80 $32.81
NDTR median wage is up 5.0% from 2013, well exceeding the 1.7% inflation increase during that time (Figure 17). Like RDNs, NDTR compensation also spans a considerable range (Table 6). Major factors associated with NDTR compensation levels are the same as for RDNs: education, experience, responsibility, and location. The practice area of food and nutrition management appears to hold the greatest promise for NDTRs, with a median wage of $24.10. As with RDN compensation, median NDTR wages do vary somewhat by location. Median wage for those in the Pacific states is nearly $4 per hour above the national figure; those in the Mountain states earn $2 less.
Outpatient/ ambulatory care
720 $26.36 $30.00 $34.62
Long-term care
313 $25.00 $29.00 $35.00
Academy Membership
Community
419 $22.56 $26.92 $32.45
Food and nutrition management
493 $32.21 $37.50 $46.73
Consultation and business
326 $29.23 $37.02 $48.32
As with RDNs, Academy membership is associated with higher compensation levels for NDTRs. The differential in median hourly wage in 2015 is $1.91 per hour ($3,970 annualized).
Education and research
268 $32.01 $38.46 $46.23
LEADERS AND LAGGARDS
Figure 14. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by practice area of primary position. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
self
for-profit
non-profit
gov't
employment sector
No. All RDNs
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
277
$25.64
$36.44
$48.08
For -profit
1,345
$25.96
$30.05
$36.06
Nonprofit (other than government)
1,604
$25.48
$29.81
$36.06
Government
850
$25.48
$31.73
$38.46
Self -employed
Figure 15. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by employment sector. Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015. March 2016 Volume 116 Number 3
A great strength of these compensation surveys is that they present wage data not only for RDNs and NDTRs as a whole, but also in terms of the specific jobs (including nontraditional jobs) nutrition and dietetics practitioners hold. The highest-paying nonacademic positions held by substantial numbers of RDNs are shown in Table 7. The highest-paying positions held by substantial numbers of NDTRs are shown in Table 8. Table 9 shows the percentage change in median wage for each position with a minimum of 80 reporting cases in both 2013 and 2015. Note that the lower the tabulation base, the greater the statistical variability. Faring above the average increase for all RDNs, and well above the 1.7% Consumer Price Index inflation rate, are three positions: pediatric/neonatal dietitian, private practice dietitian, and nutrition support dietitian. Lagging inflation with no change from 2013 are dietetic technician, clinical, and WIC nutritionist. Public health nutritionist actually lost ground in nominal terms, with a median wage down 1.9% from 2013.
BENEFITS Although many are employed part-time, nutrition and dietetics practitioners as
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS $50.00 $45.00 $40.00
$35.00 $30.00 $25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
New England
Middle Atlantic
EN Central
WN Central
$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00 $30.00
$25.00 $20.00
All RDNs
South Atl
ES Central
WS Central
Mountain
Pacific
location (Census Division)
No. All RDNs
25th
Percentiles 50th 75th
4,160
$25.64
$30.62
$37.44
New England
261
$28.85
$34.29
$40.38
Middle Atlantic
546
$26.94
$32.02
$38.46
East North Central
772
$24.52
$28.85
$34.10
West North Central
411
$24.00
$28.85
$33.65
South Atlantic
685
$25.22
$30.22
$36.82
East South Central
253
$24.02
$27.89
$33.65
West South Central
397
$25.48
$29.23
$36.02
Mountain
249
$25.48
$30.00
$35.58
Pacific
586
$30.46
$36.00
$43.27
Figure 16. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) hourly wage by location (Census Divisions). Bars are delimited by the 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal line marks the median (50th percentile). From Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
a group are offered considerable benefits packages through their employers (Table 10).
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Eight in 10 practitioners (84%) reported their employers offer them some type of retirement benefit
JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
(whether they take advantage of it or not). This figure is essentially unchanged from 2011, though the proportion being offered a defined benefit plan (pension) has plummeted from 36% to 24%. In 2015, 63% of employers offer a defined contribution plan (eg, 401[k]) to which they contribute, and another 11% such a plan without employer contribution. These results are similar to 2 years ago. Results regarding a range of hazard and health insurances were mostly similar to those seen in 2013. A majority of practitioners are offered the following: life insurance, disability insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, medical coverage for themselves and dependents, dental coverage for themselves and dependents, a prescription drug benefit, vision insurance, and a health care reimbursement or flexible spending account. The proportions of employers contributing toward those coverages, however, are significantly lower. Results for a long list of other benefits, including paid time off and professional/career development items, were also quite similar to those seen in 2013. Eighty-five percent of practitioners are offered some form of paid time off, including 81% offered paid vacation/ personal time off (PTO), 72% paid holidays, and 67% paid sick days (often incorporated in PTO). About three-quarters (72%) are offered one or more of the benefits classified as “professional/career development,” led by funding/time off for professional development, and college tuition for employees. Eighty-eight percent are offered one or more of a variety of “quality of work life” benefits, led by on-site parking, employee assistance programs, wellness programs, unpaid personal leave, and a fitness benefit (eg, discounted health club membership, on-site facilities). Very few employers are offering child care, adoption assistance, or tuition assistance for dependents.
March 2016 Volume 116 Number 3
PRACTICE APPLICATIONS CONCLUSION +5.0%
$16.35
$18.75
$19.23
$19.23
2009
2011
2013
$20.19
$17.31
$14.74
2002
2005
2007
2015
Figure 17. Nutrition and dietetics technician, registered (NDTR) median wage n¼1,397 (2002), 1,115 (2005), 1,057 (2007), 780 (2009), 759 (2011), 747 (2013), and 562 (2015), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015.
In underwriting the Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015, the Academy has provided a comprehensive and current resource to help nutrition and dietetics practitioners better manage their responsibilities and their careers. This survey provides valuable perspectives on how specific dietetics jobs are compensated, shows how a variety of factors relate to compensation levels, and identifies important trends. The Academy plans to periodically update the survey and actively seeks suggestions for its improvement. With the help and participation of nutrition and dietetics practitioners, future surveys will continue to serve as an valuable asset to the profession.
Table 6. NDTRa compensation at selected percentiles: hourly wage (n¼562), and total cash compensation for full-time employees in position at least 1 year (n¼437), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 Hourly wage
Total cash
10th percentile (10% earn less)
$13.94
$30,000
25th percentile (25% earn less)
$16.83
$37,800
50th percentile (50% earn less)
$20.19
$43,400
75th percentile (75% earn less)
$24.52
$53,000
90th percentile (90% earn less)
$29.79
$63,000
a
NDTR¼nutrition and dietetics technician, registered.
Table 7. Highest-paying positions for RDNsa, from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 Median hourly wage Executive-level professional
$50.24
Director of clinical nutrition
$39.90
Sales representative
$39.18
Research dietitian
$37.74
Director of food and nutrition services
$37.02
School foodservice director
$36.06
Clinical nutrition manager
$34.72
Consultant—community and/or corporate programs
$33.84
Corporate dietitian
$33.23
Assistant foodservice director
$32.93
a
RDNs¼registered dietitian nutritionists.
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS Table 8. Highest-paying positions for NDTRsa, from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 Median hourly wage WICb nutritionist
$24.04
Dietetic technician, foodservice management
$20.19
Dietetic technician, long-term care
$20.05
Dietetic technician, clinical
$19.23
a
NDTRs¼nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered. WIC¼Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
b
Table 9. Percent change in median hourly wage 2013-2015 for selected dietetics positions (reported by 80 or more respondents), from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 % Change 2015/2013
2015 base
Pediatric/neonatal dietitian
9.1%
106
Private practice dietitian—patient/client nutrition care
7.3%
86
Nutrition support dietitian
6.9%
118
All RDNsa
6.1%
4,160
Clinical dietitian, specialist—diabetes
6.1%
103
Clinical dietitian
5.5%
667
All NDTRsb
5.0%
562
Outpatient dietitian, general
4.9%
192
Outpatient dietitian, specialist—diabetes
4.8%
149
Outpatient dietitian, specialist—renal
4.3%
138
Clinical dietitian, specialist—renal
4.0%
185
Clinical dietitian, long-term care
3.6%
320
Clinical nutrition manager
3.2%
116
Director of food and nutrition services
2.7%
225
Inflation (CPIc)
1.7%
Dietetic technician, clinical
0.0%
233
WICd nutritionist
0.0%
280
1.9%
119
Public health nutritionist a
RDNs¼registered dietitian nutritionists. NDTRs¼nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered. c CPI¼Consumer Price Index. d WIC¼Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. b
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PRACTICE APPLICATIONS Table 10. Prevalence of benefits offered to nutrition and dietetics practitioners (n¼5,229) as part of employment/selfemployment, from Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession 2015 % offered NETa: any retirement benefit
84%
Defined benefit retirement plan (pension)
24%
Defined contribution plan
74%
Life insurance
78%
Disability insurance (long- and/or short-term)
75%
Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
63%
Long-term care insurance
45%
Business travel insurance
19%
High-deductible medical insurance—for employees
57%
High-deductible medical insurance—for dependents
56%
Lower-deductible medical insurance or managed care plan—for employees
68%
Lower-deductible medical insurance or managed care plan—for dependents
66%
Dental insurance or group plan—for employees
81%
Dental insurance or group plan—for dependents
76%
Prescription drug benefit
75%
Vision insurance or group plan
77%
Health care reimbursement or flexible spending account
71%
Retiree medical coverage
30%
NET: paid time off
85%
NET: benefits related to professional/career development
72%
NET: other benefits related to quality of work life
88%
a
NET¼percentage indicating one or more items in category.
References 1.
2.
Rogers D. Dietetics salaries on the rise. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106(2):296-305.
3.
Rogers D. Compensation & Benefits Survey 2007: Above-average pay gains seen for registered dietitians. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008;108(3):416-427.
4.
5.
Rogers D. Salary Survey Working Group. Report on the ADA 2002 Dietetics Compensation and Benefits Survey. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103(2): 243-255.
Ward B. Compensation & Benefits Survey 2009: Despite overall downturn in economy, RDN and NDTR salaries rise. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(1):25-36.
Ward B. Compensation & Benefits Survey 2011: Moderate growth in registered dietitian and dietetic technician, registered, compensation in the past 2 years. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112(1): 29-40.
6.
Rogers D. Compensation & Benefits Survey 2013: Education and job responsibility key to increased compensation. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114(1):17-33.
7.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2014: 29-1031 Dietitians and Nutritionists. www.bls.gov/oes/current/ oes291031.htm. Accessed 10/17/2015.
8.
US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index—All
Urban Consumers. http://data.bls.gov/cgibin/surveymost?cu. Accessed January 25, 2016. 9.
US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics. May 2014 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates United States. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. http://www.bls.gov/oes/ current/oes_nat.htm#29-0000. Accessed October 17, 2015.
10.
US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2014: 29-2051 Dietetic Technicians. www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292 051.htm. Accessed October 17, 2015.
AUTHOR INFORMATION Address correspondence to: Dick Rogers, Readex Research, 2251 Tower Drive West, Stillwater, MN 55082. E-mail: [email protected]
DISCLOSURES STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
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