Per diemPosted 30+ days ago
Clinical Dietitian
CommonSpirit Health · Santa Cruz, CA
$54.85–$63.61/ hour
Top 25% pay
Registered Dietitian jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
The median registered dietitian pay in the Santa Cruz area is $46.86 per hour ($97,460 a year), with the typical range running from $39.13 to $52.80. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Santa Cruz. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santa Cruz.
- $46.86median pay per hour, Santa Cruz
- $39–$53typical range per hour
- 50registered dietitians employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Registered Dietitian roles in Santa Cruz
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Get my free pay reportRegistered Dietitian pay in Santa Cruz, CA
The metro median is 4% above the California statewide median of $45.02 per hour. Nationally the median is $35.50 per hour. BLS counts about 50 dietitians and nutritionists employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.11).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $25.93 | $53,930 | 27% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $39.13 | $81,390 | 10% above U.S. median |
| Median | $46.86 | $97,460 | 32% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $52.80 | $109,820 | 49% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $58.53 | $121,740 | 65% above U.S. median |
How Santa Cruz ranks
- 8th of 266 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 12th of 251 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th 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 Santa Cruz
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $46.86 median hour buys what $42.64 buys at the national price level, 20% 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 Santa Cruz paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,687
- Per year: $84,348
- Per month: $7,029
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Cruz
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $148 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,638 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,294 |
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 Santa Cruz
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered dietitians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Cruz, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 15 mi | $46.86/hr | 51,320 |
| Cupertino, CA | 24 mi | $51.21/hr | 58,710 |
| Gilroy, CA | 25 mi | $51.21/hr | 60,390 |
| San Jose, CA | 25 mi | $51.21/hr | 997,368 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 27 mi | $51.21/hr | 133,132 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 28 mi | $51.21/hr | 156,792 |
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 Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered dietitians make in Santa Cruz, CA?
Registered Dietitians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $46.86 per hour, about $97,460 a year. The middle half earn between $39.13 and $52.80 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Cruz a good place for registered dietitians once cost of living is counted?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 12th of 251 metro areas for registered dietitian pay after adjusting for local prices, and 8th of 266 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring registered dietitians in Santa Cruz?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Santa Cruz. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Santa Cruz.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Cruz is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place registered dietitians in Santa Cruz?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Cruz and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Cruz.
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What do employers near Santa Cruz 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 reportSanta Cruz, 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.