Dietitian and Nutritionist Salary in Nashville, TN: $77,000 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dietitian and nutritionist in Nashville, TN earns a median $77,000/year (≈ $37.02/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1031). Once you factor in Nashville's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.3), that paycheck buys what $79,927 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.6% above the Tennessee state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Nashville, TN, the projected median annual salary for dietitians and nutritionists is $77,000 in 2026, slightly below the national median of $79,380. Salaries in this city range from $55,597 at the 10th percentile to $89,624 at the 90th percentile, reflecting a diverse landscape of opportunity within the profession. This data, extracted from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, illustrates the choice many practitioners face between cash-pay private practices and more traditional hospital W-2 positions. As the dietitian and nutritionist salary in Nashville evolves, it remains evident that a multitude of factors influences compensation, ensuring a dynamic job market for those in this field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $55,597 | $26.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $67,036 | $32.23 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $77,000 | $37.02 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81,780 | $39.32 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $89,624 | $43.09 |
Median Salary Position
3% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Nashville
In Nashville, TN, the dietitian and nutritionist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $34,027 (2026 est.). At $77,000, the local median is 3% below the national median of $79,380.
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At 40 hours/week in Nashville: You'd be above the median
How Nashville Dietitian and Nutritionist Pay Compares
Nashville median: $77,000/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Nashville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $70,256 | +9.60% more |
| National Average | $79,380 | -3.00% less |
Dietitian and Nutritionists in Nashville, TN earn a median of $77,000 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.00% lower than the national median of $79,380 and 9.60% above the Tennessee state average of $70,256.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Nashville has a cost of living 3.66% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Nashville, TN has a cost-of-living index of 96.338 (below the national average of 100). A dietitian and nutritionist earning $77,000 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $79,927 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.8% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$57,650
2025 BLS Actual
$74,110
2026 Current Est.
$77,000
2019–2027 Growth
+38.8%
Salary Trajectory for Dietitians and Nutritionists in Nashville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.90% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,650 | Actual |
| 2020 | $57,120 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,320 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,490 | Actual |
| 2023 | $61,220 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,310 | Actual |
| 2025 | $74,110 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $77,000 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $80,003 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Nashville metropolitan area, the median dietitian and nutritionist salary grew 28.6% from $57,650 (2019) to $74,110 (2025). At a 3.90% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $80,003 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,353 (38.77%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Nashville 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) | $55,597 – $67,036 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $67,036 – $77,000 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $77,000 – $81,780 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $81,780 – $89,624 |
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 Nashville
The local job market in Nashville employs approximately 440 dietitians and nutritionists, contributing to a strong community of professionals in the field. With a cost of living index of 96.338, below the national average, salaries in this sector offer a favorable take-home purchasing power. The highest-paying employers often include hospital clinical nutrition departments and outpatient specialty clinics, though cash-pay private practices are gaining traction as they offer competitive income potential. Factors such as specialization in areas like renal or oncology nutrition, ownership of a private practice, and involvement with sports teams can significantly elevate income levels. To optimize pay in Nashville, aspiring dietitians and nutritionists should focus on developing specialized skills, exploring cash-pay opportunities, and leveraging experiences in high-demand sectors, aligning with the evolving landscape of dietetics where the master's degree becomes essential starting in 2024.
More salary data for Nashville, TN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $74,110 for dietitians and nutritionistsin the Nashville 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
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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