Dietitian and Nutritionist Salary in Elgin, IL: $75,747 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dietitian and nutritionist in Elgin, IL earns a median $75,747/year (≈ $36.42/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1031). Once you factor in Elgin's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $78,009 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 14.8% above the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Elgin, Illinois, the projected median salary for dietitians and nutritionists is $75,747 in 2026, which marginally falls short of the national median of $79,380. For those working in the field, salaries range significantly, from $49,594 at the 10th percentile to $105,577 at the 90th percentile. These figures are based on estimates obtained from 2025 BLS data, tailored to account for regional pricing and cost-of-living adjustments. Given the current employment landscape, local professionals may choose between positions in traditional settings, like hospitals and outpatient clinics, or pursue cash-pay private practice opportunities, which are becoming increasingly popular in alignment with the evolving market and growth of intuitive eating and health-at-every-size (HAES) models.
About the Elgin Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($68,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,594 | $23.85 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61,374 | $29.51 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $75,747 | $36.42 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $90,204 | $43.37 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $105,577 | $50.76 |
Median Salary Position
4.58% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Elgin
In Elgin, IL, the dietitian and nutritionist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $55,983 (2026 est.). At $75,747, the local median is 4.58% below the national median of $79,380.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Elgin: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Elgin Dietitian and Nutritionist Pay Compares
Elgin median: $75,747/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Elgin Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $65,982 | +14.80% more |
| National Average | $79,380 | -4.58% less |
Dietitian and Nutritionists in Elgin, IL earn a median of $75,747 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.58% lower than the national median of $79,380 and 14.80% above the Illinois state average of $65,982.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Elgin has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Elgin, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A dietitian and nutritionist earning $75,747 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $78,009 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$58,466
2025 BLS Actual
$72,904
2026 Current Est.
$75,747
2019–2027 Growth
+34.6%
Salary Trajectory for Dietitians and Nutritionists in Elgin (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.90% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $58,466 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,203 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,829 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,409 | Actual |
| 2023 | $66,492 | Actual |
| 2024 | $66,093 | Actual |
| 2025 | $72,904 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $75,747 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $78,701 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Elgin metropolitan area, the median dietitian and nutritionist salary grew 24.7% from $58,466 (2019) to $72,904 (2025). At a 3.90% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $78,701 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,235 (34.61%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Elgin metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.90% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $49,594 – $61,374 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $61,374 – $75,747 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $75,747 – $90,204 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $90,204 – $105,577 |
DN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dietitian and nutritionist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dietitian and Nutritionist Job Market in Elgin
With 16 dietitians and nutritionists employed in Elgin, the job market offers various pathways for salary maximization. The area's cost of living index is 97.1, slightly below the national average, indicating an advantageous purchasing power for those entering the workforce. Higher-paying roles are typically found in hospital clinical nutrition departments or specialized settings such as outpatient diabetes and oncology clinics. Factors influencing the wide salary range include specialty certifications, cash-pay private practice ownership, and consulting roles in sports nutrition. For those looking to increase their earnings, focusing on niche areas and securing board specialties can be effective strategies, along with exploring corporate wellness programs and public health avenues that may offer competitive salaries against the regional cost of living.
More salary data for Elgin, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do dietitians and nutritionists make in Elgin, IL in 2026?
Is Elgin, IL a good place to work as a dietitian and nutritionist?
Can dietitians and nutritionists make $100K in Elgin?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted dietitian and nutritionist salary in Elgin?
How much does a dietitian and nutritionist make per hour in Elgin?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Illinois
Written by Aisha Patel, MS, RD
Career Analyst
Aisha has 10 years of experience as a nutrition consultant. She specializes in sports nutrition. Aisha works with professional athletes and teams.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $72,904 for dietitians and nutritionistsin the Elgin metropolitan area. A 3.90% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Elgin is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.90%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for dietitian and nutritionists (SOC 29-1031).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, MS, RD, a licensed dietitian and nutritionist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov