Salary Negotiation for Dietitians: Your Guide to Making More Money
As a dietitian, you have dedicated countless hours and resources to your education and professional development. It's only natural that you want to be compensated fairly for your skills and expertise. However, many dietitians struggle with negotiating their salary, which can result in missed opportunities and lower earnings.
In fact, in a recent 2022 study by Fidelity, researchers found that fewer than 45% of individuals negotiate their salary.
It can feel overwhelming to negotiate pay, but the more we push back on the status quo, the more we can elevate the field of dietetics. In this guide, we will cover how to research dietitian salaries, opportunities to negotiate, and tips on what to say when negotiating.
Today, we’ll be covering salary negotiation for a new job offer- stay tuned for a future post on negotiating a raise if your goal is to stay in your current role.
Our guide to salary negotiation for dietitians is your ticket to making more money!
Before you negotiate, do your research.
Before entering salary negotiations, it's crucial to research the average salary for dietitians in your area and industry. This will help you understand the market rate for your skills and experience, and ensure that you're not asking for an unrealistic amount for the position and years of experience.
In some cases, there will be a salary range provided with the job description or provided in a screening interview. However, sometimes companies will directly ask about your compensation requirements. We’ll discuss strategies for this question later on, but before you even enter into an interview, you should have a salary range in your mind based on your research.
When doing salary research, it’s important to compare salaries from areas with similar costs of living. For example, if you’re living in the rural mid-west, salaries from Los Angeles will not be relevant as they are much higher due to an extremely high cost of living.
Here are the best places to research dietitian salaries:
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics provides a salary calculator as well as an annual Compensation and Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession. These tools are only available to current Academy members, but it is a great starting point.
The calculator is one of the most robust options because it allows you to put in your dietetics practice area, certifications, education, supervision experience, and geographic location. In my experience, the AND calculator is currently underestimating salary data. It was last updated in 2021 and should be updated in late 2023.
Limitations: It doesn’t take into consideration your job responsibilities and it is user-reported data. However, it’s a good starting point.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections publishes an Occupational Outlook Handbook for Dietitians and Nutritionists. This shows the median salary for dietitians (which was $61,650 per year in 2021). It also shows the job outlook and a further breakdown of wage data and state salaries.
Federal Government Pay Grades. The Federal Government in the U.S. publishes pay grades for government jobs. including roles with the VA.
Google Search for any Government/State-Funded position- You can do a simple Google search to find salary information for academic positions in public universities, WIC positions, non-profits, and any other state-funded position. These are required to be released to the public.
Websites such as Glassdoor.com & Payscale.com. These websites track salary data based on user-based data and are specific to companies, however, I have found them to be fairly inaccurate for most dietitian positions.
In addition to researching salary data with the resources listed above, I also recommend the following:
Look at active positions and salary ranges.
You can look at active job postings to get a sense of typical compensation, however, keep in mind, that websites like Indeed.com often include salary estimates, which are rarely accurate.
Use your network.
Aside from online resources, you can also ask around for salary estimates. Many people post on Facebook groups about salaries. You can also network with colleagues, past supervisors, professors, etc. to get a sense of typical salaries for various positions. Just keep in mind that word of mouth will help you come up with a number, but you’ll need to be able to justify this amount with your qualifications and experiences. It can be nice to have a hard number to reference.
Salary research is an essential step for negotiating pay for dietitians.
Now that you have conducted salary research for dietitian positions, you should have a good idea in your mind about a salary range that meets the job description, your years of work experience, and your pay expectations. You should have in mind the absolute minimum that you would accept for this position as well as your desired salary.
Next, we’ll talk about how to prepare for the salary negotiation conversation.
How to Prepare for a Salary Negotiation Conversation
While it can seem scary and new to negotiate your salary as a dietitian, negotiation is truly a normal part of the job offer process. A lot of people shy away from negotiation because it feels like a hard conversation to have, but I implore you to always NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE.
You should never take the first offer provided. They will always provide a low initial offer because they expect you to negotiate.
While it’s true that not every salary negotiation will be successful, research shows that most people are able to negotiate at least a portion of their ask. Even if the employer truly won’t negotiate, you will walk away knowing that you tried.
The best thing you can do in all salary negotiations is harness your CONFIDENCE.
Remember that your experience, background, and the value you can bring are why you were offered the position. Focus on the value that you can bring to the organization. You can use salary data to back up your request for a higher salary but always have supporting data about why you’re worth it.
Before you keep reading about the negotiation process and how it works, promise me that you’ll ALWAYS negotiate every single job offer.
How does the typical negotiation process work?
Now that you’ve promised to always negotiate a future job offer, let’s talk about how the negotiation process works.
Salary negotiation should occur after you have been offered the position, however, you should be prepared just in case it does come up in the interview. We’ll cover how to handle that a little later.
The Typical Negotiation Process
The negotiation process is typically handled by a recruiter if you’re working with a larger cooperation such as a healthcare organization, University, or large company like Sodexo. However, in many circumstances, you will work directly with the business owner/supervisor such as with a private practice. If you’re working with a recruiter, they’ll work as the mediator between the supervisor and the candidate- all of your negotiations will go through them. If you’re working with the boss, you’ll converse directly with them.
Here are a few tips for negotiating salary as a dietitian:
When the recruiter or manager calls to offer you the position, DO NOT ACCEPT THE OFFER ON THE SPOT!
Here is what you can say:
“Thank you so much for the offer. I am very excited about the prospect of working with your company. Can you please send the full compensation package so that I can take the time to review the offer? I can let you know my decision in 48 hours.”
Next, review the offer carefully.
Typically after being offered a job, you’ll be provided with the salary offer as well as any benefits such as a 401k, 401k match, health insurance options, and premiums, paid time off, holidays, and any other benefits such as discounted public transportation. If they don’t provide this information right away, you should ask! This can make a huge difference in the compensation package.
It is extremely important to take into consideration all of these options. For example, I have paid $30/month for excellent health insurance at one job and $300/month for mediocre insurance at another job. That’s $360/year versus $3600/year- a big difference.
A 401k match and vesting schedule can also add a significant amount to your overall compensation package (if you aren’t sure about what these things are, book a session with me and I can help you understand your full compensation offer).
You might also have other aspects of the job that are important to you such as tuition reimbursement, remote work opportunities, internet reimbursement, access to stock options, and more. When we talk about salary negotiation, we’re really considering the entire package deal including the job itself.
As you’re doing your research, really consider what your ideal offer is as well as your bottom line offer. What is the absolute lowest amount that you’ll accept? Keep this in mind as you’re negotiating. It will help with preparing a counteroffer.
Take time to prepare a counteroffer.
With the research you’ve done, prepare your counteroffer. I always recommend aiming high. For example, if they offer you a $65,000 starting salary and you’ve seen positions closer to $80k, don’t be afraid to counter with $80k. Most likely they are going to meet you somewhere in the middle. You need to aim high so that you meet at a point that is acceptable for you.
There’s really no hard number as to what is appropriate to counter. If the salary they offered is within an expected and acceptable range, you might ask for 5-10% more.
Some people worry about sounding greedy or ungrateful, but I promise you, negotiation is 100% expected and a normal part of the hiring process.
(If you want to know exactly what to say in these negotiation discussions, I recommend booking a call with me to get a personalized script and plan).
Think about your bottom line number and your non-negotiables. What if they refuse to negotiate on salary, are there other benefits that would be worthwhile such as more vacation time, the ability to work remotely, compensation for conferences or a 4-day work week?
Here are additional perks that dietitians can negotiate beyond salary:
Paid Time Off
Flexible work schedule or remote work
Equipment and Internet reimbursement
Later start date or accommodation of a planned vacation without using PTO
Earlier vesting date for retirement plan
Continuing Education Stipend
Sign on Bonus
Earlier performance review for an earlier raise
What should you do if the salary offer is substantially lower than your expectations?
Ideally, you’ll have an idea of the salary range prior to the interview process. But say that you didn’t and the offer they have made is substantially lower than what you expected.
In this case, you’ll need to have more concrete evidence and research prepared. Consider gathering salary data and current job postings that show this higher salary amount. Compile it into a document with links and share it with the recruiter or manager.
They may be willing to meet you somewhere at the higher end but keep in mind that they likely had a budget for this position. If they offered $60k and you were thinking more along the lines of $100k, they probably aren’t going to meet you there.
In this situation, you’ll have to decide if you want the position or if you want to walk away. It’s 100% okay to walk away. Be polite and express your gratitude for the opportunity. You can let them know that they can reach out if their budget for the position changes in the future. Don’t burn bridges.
Next, we’ll talk about negotiating uncomfortable salary conversations including what to do you when they ask your salary expectations before the interview.
Navigating Uncomfortable Salary Conversations
There are a few common situations that might come up when negotiating your salary, but don’t worry, we’ll teach you how to navigate them.
Uncomfortable situation #1: The hiring manager asks about your salary expectations before the interview.
Research consistently shows that candidates earn the most if the salary discussion happens after the job offer is made. This is because the hiring team is fully invested in you and they see your value for the position.
When salary is brought up earlier, the hiring team has only seen what is written down on paper. They aren’t as invested in you and haven’t distinguished your winning qualities from any of the other candidates.
If you’re asked about your salary expectations before or during the interview, try to avoid saying a specific number. You can say:
“My salary range is flexible. I’m open to negotiation once I hear more about the position and responsibilities.”
“At this point, I’m not sure I fully understand the scope of the position. I’d be happy to discuss compensation once I understand the role”.
If they keep pressing, give them a range where the bottom of your range is the minimum that you would want to accept.
Uncomfortable Situation #2: The hiring team asks about your current or past salary.
If they ask about your current salary or past salaries, know that this question is illegal in more than 20 states. You can look up this information to see what the laws are in your state.
You can redirect this by saying:
“I’m looking to be compensated fairly based on the job responsibilities and requirements. Since this position is different than my current role, my current salary isn’t relevant. I’d like to further understand the role prior to discussing salary”.
Uncomfortable Situation #3: What happens if they say no?
In a 2022 Career Assessment Study by Fidelity, of those that asked for additional compensation, 85% of applicants received at least some form of increased compensation or other benefit. The truth is that you probably won’t get everything that you ask for and that’s okay. You need to know your non-negotiables and the bottom salary that will work for you.
Don't Be Afraid to Walk Away.
If you're not able to negotiate a salary that meets your expectations, don't be afraid to walk away from the opportunity. Remember that your time and skills are valuable, and you deserve to be compensated accordingly. There will be other opportunities.
A Word on Negotiation Etiquette
The negotiation process can be stressful and overwhelming. It can be hard to ask for something and to justify your worth. My biggest tip is to keep it professional, not emotional. You might not get everything you ask for, but that doesn’t determine your worth.
And above all, remember to be polite and respectful. Remember that these might be people that you’ll be working with in a few short weeks. They are people too. There’s a difference between being FIRM and being rude. Make sure to practice your tone in person or via email if you are negotiating via email.
You are negotiating with a real human being.
Keep it professional, not emotional.
Salary Negotiation is a skill that you have to practice.
After reading this salary negotiation guide for dietitians, you might be thinking, wow this is going to take a lot of work!
And you might be right, but I promise that the conversation gets easier each time you do it. In general, it shouldn’t take more than a few hours to prepare salary data and formalize your official request. I also recommend spending some time role-playing the conversation and outlining a rough script. You can practice with friends and family or you can book a salary negotiation session with me.
At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself if a few hours of preparation and some slight discomfort and nerves are worth earning several thousand dollars more each year.
I’m going to guess that the effort is worth it!
Salary Negotiation is your ticket to making more money as a dietitian.
In summary, salary negotiation is an important skill for every dietitian to master. By doing your research, emphasizing your accomplishments, being confident, practicing your pitch, considering other benefits, and being willing to walk away, you can ensure that you're compensated fairly for your skills and expertise.
