Occupation Summary

Dietetic Technicians

O*NET 29-2051.00

Description:

Assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. May plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.

Annual Wages:
$30,583.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 13.19%.
Education Level:
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service

  1. Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
  2. Analyze menus or recipes, standardize recipes, or test new products.
  3. Supervise food production or service or assist dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning.
  4. Plan menus or diets or guide individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
  5. Determine food and beverage costs and assist in implementing cost control procedures.
  6. Develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.
  7. Select, schedule, or conduct orientation or in-service education programs.
  8. Provide dietitians with assistance researching food, nutrition, or food service systems.
  9. Deliver speeches on diet, nutrition, or health to promote healthy eating habits and illness prevention and treatment.
  10. Refer patients to other relevant services to provide continuity of care.
  11. Conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals' dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
  12. Observe and monitor patient food intake and body weight, and report changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.
  13. Attend interdisciplinary meetings with other health care professionals to discuss patient care.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Dietetic Technicians employed Annual Growth Rate
General medical and surgical hospitals 48 0.31
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) 17.8 -0.28
Continuing care, assisted living facilities 5 0.96
Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals 3.9 1.18
Special food services 3.8 0.00


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $14.70
2024 National average hourly wage $19.02
2022 National employment 20,200
2022 Texas employment 887
Texas projected employment by 2032 1,004
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 113




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
95.60%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
90.80%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
84.00%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
79.40%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
79.20%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
78.60%
Food Production
Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
78.20%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
76.20%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
75.40%
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
71.80%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
67.60%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
65.00%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
62.40%
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
62.40%
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
62.40%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
62.40%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
62.40%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
62.40%
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
62.40%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
62.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
75.00%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
75.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
70.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
65.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
65.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
65.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
65.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
65.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
62.40%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
62.40%


  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    -- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
    -- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Commercial use cutlery: Commercial kitchen knives;

Commercial use food slicers: Commercial kitchen food slicers;

Commercial use microwave ovens: Commercial kitchen microwave ovens;

Commercial use mixers: Commercial kitchen mixers;

Commercial use ovens: Commercial kitchen ovens;

Commercial use ranges: Commercial kitchen stoves;

Commercial use scales: Food scales;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Medical tape measures: Medical measuring tapes;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Patient floor scales: Medical floor scales;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Scientific calculator: Programmable calculators;

Skinfold calipers: Body-fat calipers;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro; ESHA Research The Food Processor; Gnutrition; NutriGenie Optimal Nutrition; The Nutrition Company FoodWorks;

Calendar and scheduling software: Appointment scheduling software;

Data base user interface and query software: CBORD Nutrition Service Suite; CyberSoft NutriBase; Microsoft Access; DietMaster Systems Clinical Nutrition; USDA Child Nutrition Database; ValuSoft MasterCook;

Desktop publishing software: Desktop publishing software;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: LunchByte Systems NUTRIKIDS; eTritionWare; Cybersoft Primero Software Suite;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Inventory management software: Food Service Solutions FoodCo;

Medical software: Computrition Nutrition Care Management NCM Select; MEDITECH software; Patient electronic medical record EMR software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint; Presentation software;

Spreadsheet software: Spreadsheet software; Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word; Word processing software;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Dietetic Technicians include:
  • 21-1094.00 Community Health Workers
  • 29-1031.00 Dietitians and Nutritionists
  • 29-1128.00 Exercise Physiologists
  • 21-1091.00 Health Education Specialists
  • 31-1121.00 Home Health Aides
  • 29-2061.00 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
  • 31-9092.00 Medical Assistants
  • 31-1131.00 Nursing Assistants
  • 29-2053.00 Psychiatric Technicians
  • 29-1141.00 Registered Nurses


No sources of additional information found.

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.