WI · Madison · Updated October 15, 2026

Registered Dietitian jobs in Madison, WI

Registered Dietitians in the Madison area earn a median of $33.30 per hour, about $69,270 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $30.91 and $39.91. That ranks 127th of 266 U.S. metro areas for registered dietitian pay, and 148th of 251 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Madison. The free report below lists employers near Madison and what they pay.

More open Registered Dietitian roles in Madison

2 more open roles from employers in Madison. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Registered Dietitian pay in Madison, WI

The metro median is in line with the Wisconsin statewide median of $33.39 per hour. Nationally the median is $35.50 per hour. BLS counts about 260 dietitians and nutritionists employed in the Madison metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.28).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$27.37$56,93023% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$30.91$64,29013% below U.S. median
Median$33.30$69,2706% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$39.91$83,01012% above U.S. median
Top 10%$41.10$85,49016% above U.S. median

How Madison ranks

  • 127th of 266 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 148th of 251 after adjusting for local prices
  • 6th of 7 Wisconsin 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.

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

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What your pay buys in Madison

  • Overall prices in Madison run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: in line with the U.S. average (index 99.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $33.30 median hour buys what $34.23 buys at the national price level, 4% 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.

Estimate your Madison paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,199
  • Per year: $59,940
  • Per month: $4,995

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Madison metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Madison

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$124
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,428
13-week assignment$18,564

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).

Open Registered Dietitian roles in Wisconsin

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Madison as they open.

All Registered Dietitian jobs in Wisconsin

Hospitals in Madison

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Madison, 4 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered dietitians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Madison Va Medical Center
Madison, WI
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Unitypoint Health - Meriter
Madison, WI
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
University Of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority
Madison, WI
Acute careGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - Madison
Madison, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Mendota Mental Health Institute
Madison, WI
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

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
Janesville, WI35 mi$33.39/hr66,428
Waukesha, WI60 mi$35.94/hr71,461
Rockford, IL60 mi$30.41/hr147,486
West Allis, WI71 mi$35.94/hr59,784
Milwaukee, WI74 mi$35.94/hr563,531
Dubuque, IA76 mi$33.12/hr58,987

Registered Dietitian jobs in Wisconsin · Registered Dietitian jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

RD credential from the CDR. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Wisconsin state guide

Other healthcare roles in Madison

Madison city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do registered dietitians make in Madison, WI?

Registered Dietitians in the Madison metro area have a median pay of $33.30 per hour, about $69,270 a year. The middle half earn between $30.91 and $39.91 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Madison a good place for registered dietitians once cost of living is counted?

Madison ranks 148th of 251 metro areas for registered dietitian pay after adjusting for local prices, and 127th of 266 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Where do registered dietitians work in Madison?

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Madison, led by Madison Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Madison as a registered dietitian?

RD credential from the CDR. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin 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 Madison?

The federal per diem benchmark in Madison is $124 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,428 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place registered dietitians in Madison?

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

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

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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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 Madison, WI
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Dietitian pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Wisconsin list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • MercyWisconsin · 2 postings$30.33/ hr$23–$37
  • 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

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Wisconsin list

2What they are offering now

Low$26Median$38.18High$56

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 now: 2 Dietitian roles

  1. Clinical Dietitian - Full-TimePermanent
    $49k–$78k/ year
    Mercy · Wisconsin · posted 14 days ago
  2. Clinical Dietitian - PRNPer diem
    $23.33–$37.33/ hour
    Mercy · Wisconsin · posted 30+ days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
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