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Nutritionist salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$98,850median pay per year in California, or $47.52 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $72,780lowest 10% earn less
  2. $83,27025th percentile
  3. $98,850median
  4. $110,66075th percentile
  5. $130,850top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $76,400[3]

The median pay for nutritionists in California was $98,850 a year[1]. That was the highest median of any state with a published figure[5].

Jobs in CA
8,720[4]
Rank by median pay
1 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+29.4%[6]

How much do nutritionists make in California?

Half of the nutritionists in California earned more than $98,850 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $47.52 an hour[1]. The average was close, at $98,780 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for nutritionists was $76,400 a year[3]. California's median was $22,450 (29.4%) higher[6]. It was also $40,610 higher than the median for all jobs in the state, which was $58,240[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% of nutritionists in California earned less than $72,780 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $130,850[2]. By metro area, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $122,910[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had a median of $117,380, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had $95,450[11].

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. Self-employed workers and business owners are left out, and so are bonuses and the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for nutritionists in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$98,850[1]$76,400[3]
Median per hour$47.52[1]$36.73[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$72,780[2]$49,090[13]
Top 10% earn more than$130,850[2]$103,720[13]
Jobs8,720[4]77,570[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for nutritionists, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$95,4503,060
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$117,3801,210
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$95,280710
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$98,870620
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$122,910610
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$102,580550
Fresno, CA$93,470240
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$93,860150

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for nutritionists in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$84,180700
Nevada$69,030560
Arizona$64,4101,800

Median pay for nutritionists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for nutritionists are projected to grow 7.7% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nutritionist make in California?
The median was $98,850 a year in May 2025, and the average was $98,780[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $72,780 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $130,850[2].
How much does a nutritionist make an hour in California?
The median was $47.52 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $34.99 an hour and the 90th percentile was $62.91[17].
Which city in California pays nutritionists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median of the 21 metro areas with a published figure, at $122,910 a year[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had a median of $117,380[11].
Is California a good state for nutritionists?
California had the 1st highest median annual wage for nutritionists among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $98,850 compares with $76,400 across the US[1][3].
What do you need to become a nutritionist in California?
This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical path starts with a bachelor's degree, no work experience in a related job, and an internship or residency[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists in California was $98,850 per year and $47.52 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dietitians and Nutritionists in California: 10th percentile $72,780, 25th percentile $83,270, 75th percentile $110,660, 90th percentile $130,850. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists in the US as a whole was $76,400 per year and $36.73 per hour, with about 77,570 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 8,720 people worked as Dietitians and Nutritionists in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 1st highest median annual wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median (the highest of all). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists in California ($98,850) was $22,450 (29.4%) higher than the US median ($76,400). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists in California was $98,780 per year and $47.49 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists in California was $40,610 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 21 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Dietitians and Nutritionists, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $122,910. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dietitians and Nutritionists in the US: 10th percentile $49,090, 25th percentile $63,080, 75th percentile $89,340, 90th percentile $103,720. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $84,180; Nevada $69,030; Arizona $64,410. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Dietitians and Nutritionists is projected to grow 7.7% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,700 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Dietitians and Nutritionists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Dietitians and Nutritionists in California: 10th percentile $34.99, 25th percentile $40.03, 75th percentile $53.20, 90th percentile $62.91. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.