Prevailing Wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists
The prevailing wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists (SOC 29-1031) is set by the DOL and establishes the minimum a sponsored employer must pay. Whether your offer is for a clinical dietitian, clinical nutritionist, or oncology dietitian role, DOL assigns one of four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level dietitians and nutritionists with limited professional experience, typically those recently completing a supervised practice program. Work is routine, closely supervised, and follows established clinical or food-service protocols with minimal independent decision-making.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for dietitians and nutritionists. It applies to qualified professionals who perform standard assessments and counseling with moderate supervision, and who hold a registered dietitian credential and one to three years of relevant practice experience.
Level 3 covers experienced practitioners who manage complex cases, may supervise junior staff, and apply specialized clinical judgment across patient populations. These professionals typically hold several years of post-credentialing experience in a specialty area such as oncology, renal, or critical care nutrition.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior dietitians and nutritionists who lead departmental programs, set clinical standards, or direct nutrition research initiatives. Extensive independent expertise is required, and employers filing at this level typically designate the role as a lead, director, or principal clinician.
Prevailing Wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Dietitians and Nutritionists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your RD credential maps correctly
Dietitian and nutritionist roles are sometimes filed under health education or food science SOC codes rather than SOC 29-1031. An incorrect SOC code sets the wrong prevailing wage floor, which can affect your petition. Verify the LCA lists SOC 29-1031 before signing your offer.
Watch how sign-on bonuses affect your wage
Many hospital systems offer sign-on bonuses to recruit registered dietitians in competitive markets like San Francisco or Sacramento. DOL counts only guaranteed recurring wages toward prevailing wage compliance, so one-time sign-on payments cannot substitute for a base salary that clears the applicable level floor.
Factor in worksite city when comparing offers
Prevailing wages for clinical dietitians vary sharply by geography. California metro areas consistently carry floors well above the national median, while Puerto Rico metros sit far below it. An offer that clears the floor in one city may not in another, even for the same role and experience level.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with dietitian history
Hospitals, health systems, and corporate wellness employers vary widely in H-1B and green card sponsorship activity for nutritionist and dietitian roles. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored this occupation, so you can focus your search on organizations with a real track record.
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Find Jobs for Dietitians and NutritionistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1031.00 alongside Dietitians and Nutritionists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Clinical Dietician Prevailing Wage
Clinical Dietician Prevailing Wage
Clinical Dietician positions fall under SOC 29-1031.00 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Clinical Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Clinical Dietitian Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Clinical Dietitian for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1031.00 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Clinical Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Nutritionist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1031.00 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Dietitian positions fall under SOC 29-1031.00 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Nutritionist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1031.00 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Oncology Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Oncology Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Oncology Dietitian is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1031.00 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Outpatient Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Outpatient Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Outpatient Dietitian positions fall under SOC 29-1031.00 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Registered Dietician Prevailing Wage
Registered Dietician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Registered Dietician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1031.00 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Registered Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Registered Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Registered Dietitian is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1031.00 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Renal Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Renal Dietitian Prevailing Wage
Renal Dietitian positions fall under SOC 29-1031.00 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the DOL set the prevailing wage for dietitians and nutritionists?
DOL derives prevailing wages from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metro area, BLS surveys employer-reported wages for SOC 29-1031 and DOL converts those survey percentiles into four wage levels. OFLC publishes the resulting figures annually, and employers must use the level that matches their position's requirements when filing a Labor Condition Application.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and responsibility. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified with standard independent practice, which is the most common filing level for this occupation; Level 3 reflects specialized or supervisory experience; Level 4 covers senior leadership or program-director scope. Review your job description and compare its requirements against DOL's level definitions to determine which level your employer should file at on the LCA.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same dietitian role differ so much by city?
DOL calculates separate wage floors for each metropolitan statistical area using regional BLS survey data, so local labor market conditions directly set the floor. An employer must use the prevailing wage for the worksite address listed on the LCA, not the company's headquarters. Dense healthcare markets in California produce higher survey wages than rural or lower-cost regions, which is why the floor for a clinical nutritionist in the San Jose area far exceeds the floor in a Puerto Rico metro.
What happens if my offered salary is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B, E-3, or employment-based green card petition if the LCA wage is below the applicable DOL prevailing wage floor. If a certified LCA later shows a wage below that floor, DOL can pursue back-wage liability and debar the employer from future sponsorships. For candidates, an underpaid offer effectively means the petition cannot proceed without a salary adjustment from the employer.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a dietitian or nutritionist role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 29-1031 wages by metropolitan area. Select the metro area matching your job's worksite address and the wage level your employer intends to file at. You can also search OFLC LCA disclosure data to see what wages employers have previously certified for dietitian and nutritionist roles in that market. Migrate Mate can help identify which employers in a given area have active sponsorship history for this occupation.
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