PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Registered Dietitian
Fresenius Medical Care · San Diego, CA
$71k–$117k/ year
New this week
Registered Dietitian jobs in San Diego, CA
Registered Dietitians in the San Diego area earn a median of $46.30 per hour, about $96,300 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $37.71 and $50.72. That ranks 11th of 266 U.S. metro areas for registered dietitian pay, and 15th of 251 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for San Diego. The free report below lists employers near San Diego and what they pay.
- $46.30median pay per hour, San Diego
- $38–$51typical range per hour
- 730registered dietitians employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Registered Dietitian roles in San Diego
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Named employers near San Diego, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportRegistered Dietitian pay in San Diego, CA
The metro median is 3% above the California statewide median of $45.02 per hour. Nationally the median is $35.50 per hour. BLS counts about 730 dietitians and nutritionists employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.96).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.14 | $64,770 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $37.71 | $78,440 | 6% above U.S. median |
| Median | $46.30 | $96,300 | 30% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $50.72 | $105,500 | 43% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $60.31 | $125,440 | 70% above U.S. median |
How San Diego ranks
- 11th of 266 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 15th of 251 after adjusting for local prices
- 10th of 21 California metro areas
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 San Diego
- Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $46.30 median hour buys what $41.38 buys at the national price level, 17% above 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.
Estimate your San Diego paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,667
- Per year: $83,340
- Per month: $6,945
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in San Diego
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $205 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,037 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,481 |
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. 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 San Diego
CMS lists 9 hospitals in San Diego, 5 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered dietitians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Va San Diego Healthcare System San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Nmc San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Department of Defense | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Aurora San Diego San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa, CA | 7 mi | $46.30/hr | 60,767 |
| Santee, CA | 9 mi | $46.30/hr | 59,104 |
| Temecula, CA | 47 mi | $42.98/hr | 112,431 |
Registered Dietitian jobs in California · Registered Dietitian jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
RD credential from the CDR. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in San Diego
San Diego city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered dietitians make in San Diego, CA?
Registered Dietitians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $46.30 per hour, about $96,300 a year. The middle half earn between $37.71 and $50.72 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is San Diego a good place for registered dietitians once cost of living is counted?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 15th of 251 metro areas for registered dietitian pay after adjusting for local prices, and 11th of 266 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring registered dietitians in San Diego?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in San Diego. Your free report adds named employers and pay near San Diego.
Do I need a California license to work in San Diego as a registered dietitian?
RD credential from the CDR. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California 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 San Diego?
The federal per diem benchmark in San Diego is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place registered dietitians in San Diego?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in San Diego and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near San Diego.
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What do employers near San Diego pay registered dietitians? Get the report.
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- 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
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Dietitian pay reportSan Diego, CA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 2 postings$59.70/ hr$48–$73
- CommonSpirit HealthSTOCKTON, CA · 8 postings$49.30/ hr$39–$64
- Emanate HealthWest Covina, CA · 3 postings$42.76/ hr$34–$62
- Laguna Beach Community Clinic, Inc.Laguna Beach, CA · 2 wage offers$42.31/ hr$33–$47
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$35Median$47.65High$60
31 Dietitian postings with published pay in California, 25 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 31 Dietitian roles
- Clinical Dietitian IPer diem$39.18–$58.28/ hour
- Clinical Dietitian - OncologyPermanent$47.73–$63.84/ hour
+ 29 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.