CA · Santee · Updated October 15, 2026

Registered Dietitian jobs in Santee, CA

Pay for registered dietitians in the Santee area centers on $46.30 per hour, or about $96,300 a year. The lower quarter earns under $37.71 and the upper quarter over $50.72. The CMS hospital directory lists 18 hospitals in the Santee metro area. That ranks 11th of 266 U.S. metro areas for registered dietitian pay, and 15th of 251 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Santee.

Open Registered Dietitian roles near Santee

Roles in other cities of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.

PermanentPosted 7 days ago

Registered Dietitian

Fresenius Medical Care · San Diego, CA

$71k–$117k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req R0272534
New this week
View role

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Named employers near Santee, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring registered dietitians near Santee

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Sharp HealthCare1$47.89
Fresenius Medical Care1$45.19

Registered Dietitian pay in Santee, 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).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$31.14$64,77012% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$37.71$78,4406% above U.S. median
Median$46.30$96,30030% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$50.72$105,50043% above U.S. median
Top 10%$60.31$125,44070% above U.S. median

How Santee 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 Santee

  • 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 Santee 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 Santee

ItemFederal 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 the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area

CMS lists 18 hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area, 10 of the 13 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered dietitians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Va San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego, CA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Grossmont Hospital
La Mesa, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas
Encinitas, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Scripps Mercy Hospital
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Chula Vista, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr Ctr
Coronado, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Registered Dietitian pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
El Cajon, CA4 mi$46.30/hr103,291
La Mesa, CA6 mi$46.30/hr60,767
Temecula, CA45 mi$42.98/hr112,431

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.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Santee

Santee city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do registered dietitians make in Santee, 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 Santee 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 Santee?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Santee.

Do I need a California license to work in Santee 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 Santee?

The federal per diem benchmark in Santee 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 Santee?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santee and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santee.

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What do employers near Santee pay registered dietitians? Get the report.

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    What they are offering now

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · Dietitian near Santee, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Dietitian pay reportSantee, 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

  1. Clinical Dietitian IPer diem
    $39.18–$58.28/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Oxnard, CA · posted today
  2. Clinical Dietitian - OncologyPermanent
    $47.73–$63.84/ hour
    Montage Health · Monterey, CA · posted yesterday

+ 29 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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