by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Dietitian Assistant covers Dietitian Assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Assist Registered Dietitians In Planning, Preparing And Serving Meals To Individuals With Specific Dietary Needs. Includes Instruction In Equipment Use, Food Preparation, Diet Regulations, Food Handling, Safety And Sanitary Standards And Administrative Techniques And Procedures. Read on to learn the key facts every dietitian assistant major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering dietitian assistant programs.
Nationwide, dietitian assistant is a widely-pursued major, with 615 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Dietitian Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 11 schools to determine the best overall colleges for dietitian assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of dietitian assistant programs later in this article.
Coursework for Dietitian Assistant build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations dietitian assistant graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a dietitian assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a dietitian assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several dietitian assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 14 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 254 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 334 |
People currently working in careers related to dietitian assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 34.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 26.9% |
| Some college courses | 14.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 9.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in dietitian assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in dietitian assistant opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to dietitian assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to dietitian assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietetic Technicians | 587,747 | 5.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of dietitian assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,296 |
| 4 years | $49,100 |
| 5 years | $54,879 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for dietitian assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers dietitian assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dietetic Technicians | $137,981 |
With 11 different dietitian assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased dietitian assistant school rankings to help you.
Those considering dietitian assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dietetics/Dietitian | 3,028 |
| Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist | 919 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Other | 465 |
| Dietetic Technician | 159 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
