Dietetic Technician Salary in San Diego, CA
Dietetic Technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $39,630 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,933 take-home, or $2,744 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dietetic technician salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,576
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,457
- Medicare (1.45%)$575
- California income tax$575
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$515
- Take-home pay$32,933
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Dietetic Technician pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,840 | $17.71 | $30,839 | $2,570 |
| 25th percentile | $37,640 | $18.10 | $31,439 | $2,620 |
| Median (50th) | $39,630 | $19.05 | $32,933 | $2,744 |
| 75th percentile | $51,050 | $24.54 | $41,423 | $3,452 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,820 | $30.20 | $50,021 | $4,168 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,630 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dietetic technician's $32,933 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,434 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of dietetic technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dietetic technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #10 of 14 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside, CA | $47,640 | $38,932 | $36,575 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $49,800 | $40,102 | $35,626 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City, UT | $41,250 | $34,434 | $34,138 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $43,560 | $35,169 | $33,949 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $45,450 | $37,301 | $32,845 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $45,930 | $37,661 | $32,575 |
| 7 | Grand Rapids, MI | $36,420 | $30,146 | $31,552 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $36,800 | $30,436 | $30,345 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $39,630 | $32,933 | $29,434 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 14 metros →
Dietetic Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- Riverside, CA — $47,640
- Los Angeles, CA — $45,450
- San Francisco, CA — $45,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dietetic technician make in San Diego, CA?
The median dietetic technician salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $39,630 a year, or about $19.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,640 and $51,050.
What is a dietetic technician’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $39,630 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,933 a year ($2,744 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,090 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a dietetic technician?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $37,640. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,434 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #10 of 14 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dietetic technician afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 90% of a median dietetic technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $165,160
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Nurse Practitioner — $163,860
- Veterinarian — $159,750
- Dentists, General — $158,160
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Optometrist — $133,280
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,630
- Dental Hygienist — $123,790