Registered Dietitian jobs in Little Rock, AR
The median registered dietitian pay in the Little Rock area is $31.19 per hour ($64,880 a year), with the typical range running from $26.29 to $34.82. That ranks 188th of 266 U.S. metro areas for registered dietitian pay, and 125th of 251 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 7 hospitals in Little Rock. The free report below lists employers near Little Rock and what they pay.
- $31.19median pay per hour, Little Rock
- $26–$35typical range per hour
- 240registered dietitians employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Registered Dietitian pay in Little Rock, AR
The metro median is 7% above the Arkansas statewide median of $29.20 per hour. Nationally the median is $35.50 per hour. BLS counts about 240 dietitians and nutritionists employed in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.35).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $23.02 | $47,880 | 35% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $26.29 | $54,680 | 26% below U.S. median |
| Median | $31.19 | $64,880 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $34.82 | $72,430 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $41.34 | $85,990 | 16% above U.S. median |
How Little Rock ranks
- 188th of 266 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 125th of 251 after adjusting for local prices
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dietitians and Nutritionists (SOC 29-1031), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Little Rock
- Overall prices in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 32% below the U.S. average (index 68.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $31.19 median hour buys what $34.90 buys at the national price level, 2% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Little Rock Registered Dietitian pay report
Named employers near Little Rock, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Little Rock paycheck
- Per year: $56,142
- Per month: $4,679
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Little Rock
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel registered dietitian assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Little Rock
CMS lists 7 hospitals in Little Rock, 0 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered dietitians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Heart Hospital, Llc Little Rock, AR | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock Little Rock, AR | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Chi-St Vincent Infirmary Little Rock, AR | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Arkansas Medical Sciences Little Rock, AR | Acute care | Government and federal | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Va Central Ar. Veterans Healthcare System Lr Little Rock, AR | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Arkansas Children's Hospital Little Rock, AR | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Arkansas State Hospital Little Rock, AR | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Registered Dietitian pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Little Rock, AR | 8 mi | $31.19/hr | 64,498 |
| Conway, AR | 25 mi | $31.19/hr | 70,711 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 121 mi | $29.20/hr | 82,384 |
| Fort Smith, AR | 122 mi | $29.20/hr | 90,507 |
| Southaven, MS | 136 mi | $31.60/hr | 57,493 |
| Fayetteville, AR | 138 mi | $30.91/hr | 103,134 |
Registered Dietitian jobs in Arkansas · Registered Dietitian jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Arkansas
RD credential from the CDR. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Arkansas taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Little Rock
Little Rock city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered dietitians make in Little Rock, AR?
Registered Dietitians in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro area have a median pay of $31.19 per hour, about $64,880 a year. The middle half earn between $26.29 and $34.82 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Little Rock a good place for registered dietitians once cost of living is counted?
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway ranks 125th of 251 metro areas for registered dietitian pay after adjusting for local prices, and 188th of 266 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Where do registered dietitians work in Little Rock?
CMS lists 7 hospitals in Little Rock, led by Arkansas Heart Hospital, Llc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Arkansas license to work in Little Rock as a registered dietitian?
RD credential from the CDR. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Little Rock?
The federal per diem benchmark in Little Rock is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place registered dietitians in Little Rock?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Little Rock and across Arkansas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Little Rock.
What do employers near Little Rock pay registered dietitians? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
20+ Registered Dietitian roles in Arkansas, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Dietitian pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Arkansas list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- CommonSpirit HealthSTOCKTON, CA · 8 postings$49.30/ hr$39–$64
- Emanate HealthWest Covina, CA · 3 postings$42.76/ hr$34–$62
- Sentara HealthcareHarrisonburg, VA · 3 postings$42.75/ hr$35–$60
- Central Maine Healthcare CorporationAnaheim, CA · 7 postings$42.00/ hr$28–$55
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Arkansas list
2What they are offering now
181 Dietitian postings with published pay in the US, 140 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Dietitian roles
Open Dietitian roles near Little Rock, AR, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.