GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Dietitians and Nutritionists
Best States to Be a Dietitians and Nutritionists
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a dietitians and nutritionists salary goes furthest in West Virginia — a $89,440 BLS median worth $96,164 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 131.4).
Which US states are best for a dietitians and nutritionists after cost of living and tax?
For a dietitians and nutritionists, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks West Virginia #1: a $89,440 BLS median becomes $96,164 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 131.4). Arizona ranks last ($62,849, index 85.9). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
West Virginia ranks #1 of 51 states for a dietitians and nutritionists. Index 100 = the average state; 131.4 means pay goes 31.4% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedDietitians and Nutritionists — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $89,440 | $3,376 | 89.5 | $96,164 | 131.4 |
| 2 | Alaska | $87,980 | — | 102.4 | $85,952 | 117.5 |
| 3 | California | $98,850 | $5,071 | 110.7 | $84,699 | 115.8 |
| 4 | Iowa | $72,690 | $2,722 | 87.8 | $79,724 | 109.0 |
| 5 | Washington | $84,220 | — | 107.0 | $78,701 | 107.6 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $70,040 | $128 | 89.0 | $78,589 | 107.4 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $74,730 | $2,398 | 92.2 | $78,441 | 107.2 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $70,460 | $1,739 | 88.2 | $77,909 | 106.5 |
| 9 | Texas | $74,440 | — | 97.1 | $76,697 | 104.8 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $74,930 | $2,819 | 94.1 | $76,636 | 104.7 |
| 11 | Vermont | $77,450 | $2,730 | 98.0 | $76,278 | 104.3 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $69,560 | $2,766 | 87.8 | $76,037 | 103.9 |
| 13 | Oregon | $84,180 | $6,562 | 103.4 | $75,094 | 102.6 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $70,160 | $2,552 | 90.1 | $75,034 | 102.6 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $80,600 | $2,858 | 103.6 | $75,033 | 102.5 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $77,540 | $3,784 | 98.6 | $74,787 | 102.2 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $84,450 | $3,190 | 108.8 | $74,685 | 102.1 |
| 18 | Delaware | $78,060 | $3,811 | 99.8 | $74,392 | 101.7 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $69,520 | $2,650 | 90.2 | $74,169 | 101.4 |
| 20 | Ohio | $69,530 | $1,130 | 92.8 | $73,728 | 100.8 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $67,620 | — | 91.9 | $73,604 | 100.6 |
| 22 | Florida | $76,050 | — | 103.4 | $73,539 | 100.5 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $64,890 | — | 88.6 | $73,251 | 100.1 |
| 24 | Virginia | $77,380 | $3,650 | 101.1 | $72,925 | 99.7 |
| 25 | New York | $82,480 | $3,931 | 107.9 | $72,783 | 99.5 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $65,540 | $2,348 | 86.9 | $72,688 | 99.3 |
| 27 | Georgia | $73,200 | $3,299 | 96.3 | $72,592 | 99.2 |
| 28 | Montana | $71,580 | $3,085 | 94.6 | $72,370 | 98.9 |
| 29 | Idaho | $71,610 | $2,958 | 95.5 | $71,892 | 98.3 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $69,970 | $2,731 | 93.7 | $71,723 | 98.0 |
| 31 | Alabama | $66,190 | $3,045 | 88.8 | $71,091 | 97.2 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $82,150 | $4,108 | 109.9 | $71,011 | 97.1 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $63,700 | $1,998 | 87.0 | $70,961 | 97.0 |
| 34 | Kansas | $66,830 | $2,929 | 90.1 | $70,947 | 97.0 |
| 35 | Maryland | $77,800 | $3,363 | 105.0 | $70,920 | 96.9 |
| 36 | Colorado | $75,510 | $2,662 | 103.1 | $70,690 | 96.6 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $81,920 | $4,696 | 110.0 | $70,235 | 96.0 |
| 38 | Illinois | $73,520 | $3,498 | 100.0 | $70,051 | 95.7 |
| 39 | Missouri | $65,450 | $2,195 | 90.8 | $69,651 | 95.2 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $64,370 | — | 92.7 | $69,446 | 94.9 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $67,560 | $2,329 | 94.3 | $69,154 | 94.5 |
| 42 | Indiana | $66,450 | $1,964 | 93.3 | $69,096 | 94.4 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $76,660 | $3,613 | 105.8 | $69,071 | 94.4 |
| 44 | Nevada | $69,030 | — | 100.0 | $69,044 | 94.4 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $71,840 | — | 104.2 | $68,968 | 94.3 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $71,300 | $2,074 | 102.3 | $67,683 | 92.5 |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | $67,410 | $2,069 | 97.6 | $66,966 | 91.5 |
| 48 | Michigan | $66,850 | $2,595 | 96.2 | $66,782 | 91.3 |
| 49 | Maine | $64,610 | $2,746 | 97.0 | $63,744 | 87.1 |
| 50 | Utah | $65,310 | $2,972 | 98.9 | $63,055 | 86.2 |
| 51 | Arizona | $64,410 | $1,135 | 100.7 | $62,849 | 85.9 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In West Virginia, a $89,440 salary is worth about $95,119 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $4,311 (≈ top marginal 4.82% (upper bound)) · take-home $85,129 · BEA cost of living 89.5 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $100,964, a $5,845 gain over West Virginia.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $100,964 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $98,867 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $98,356 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $98,334 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $98,039 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $98,027 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $97,355 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $96,982 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $96,493 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $95,660 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $95,234 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $95,119 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Dietitians and Nutritionists — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a dietitians and nutritionists?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, West Virginia is the best state for a dietitians and nutritionists: a BLS median of $89,440 is worth $96,164 after the 2025 state income tax ($3,376) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.5), an index of 131.4 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a dietitians and nutritionists at $98,850, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 115.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a dietitians and nutritionists salary go least far?
- Arizona ranks last of 51 states for a dietitians and nutritionists: a $64,410 BLS median is worth only $62,849 after tax and cost of living (index 85.9). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a dietitians and nutritionists is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.