⭐ Hospitality
↑ 7% growth · Faster than average
Dietary Aide / Food Service Technician
Dietary aides prepare and deliver meals to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities — ensuring residents receive nutritionally appropriate food with compassion and care. It's an accessible entry into healthcare settings with a pathway to become a certified dietary manager or dietitian.
$29,500
Median Salary
340K
US Jobs
2–4 weeks
Training
$0–$200
Typical Cost
💰 Salary & Earning Potential
Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Figures represent national averages — local wages vary by state, city, and employer.
Want your state's salary? Select a state below to see local wage data, demand, and training programs.
📈 Job Outlook
7%
Projected Growth (10yr)
Faster than average
340K
Total US Jobs
Active positions nationwide
ServSafe Food Handler + CDM
Required Credential
ServSafe Food Handler + CDM (dietary manager, for senior roles)
🎓 Training & Education
Typical Program
On-the-Job Training + ServSafe Certification
Program Length
2–4 weeks
Typical Tuition
$0–$200
Work Setting
Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, schools
🏆 Credential Required: ServSafe Food Handler + CDM (dietary manager, for senior roles)
☀️ Day in the Life
A typical day as a Dietary Aide / Food Service Technician involves working closely with clients and colleagues in a Hospitals environment. You'll apply your training daily while building expertise and advancing your career.
⚖️ Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✅ Strong job security
- ✅ Rewarding work
- ✅ Clear career progression
- ✅ Growing demand
Challenges
- ⚠️ Can be physically demanding
- ⚠️ May require ongoing certification
- ⚠️ Entry-level wages vary by region
🗺️ Dietary Aide / Food Service Technician by State
See local salary data, licensing requirements, and schools in your state:
FL FloridaGA GeorgiaTX TexasCA CaliforniaNY New YorkNC North CarolinaIL IllinoisOH OhioPA PennsylvaniaAZ ArizonaAL AlabamaAR ArkansasLA LouisianaMS MississippiSC South CarolinaTN TennesseeVA VirginiaWV West VirginiaKY KentuckyMD MarylandDE DelawareNJ New JerseyCT ConnecticutMA MassachusettsRI Rhode IslandNH New HampshireVT VermontME MaineMI MichiganIN IndianaWI WisconsinMN MinnesotaIA IowaMO MissouriND North DakotaSD South DakotaNE NebraskaKS KansasOK OklahomaCO ColoradoMT MontanaWY WyomingID IdahoUT UtahNV NevadaNM New MexicoWA WashingtonOR OregonAK AlaskaHI HawaiiDC Washington DC
🏫 Schools and programs related to Dietary Aide / Food Service Technician
USA Career Finder combines federal education datasets, state-approved training lists, workforce training provider lists, and licensing-board sources where available. Always confirm program availability, cost, admissions requirements, and licensing eligibility directly with the school.
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy
📍 Chicago, IL
Award
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage
📍 Falls Church, VA
Award
Federal dataset match
Career College
WellSpring School of Allied Health-Kansas City
📍 Kansas City, MO
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Healing Mountain Massage School
📍 Salt Lake City, UT
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Federal dataset match
Career College
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📍 New York, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
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📍 San Francisco, CA
Award
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Healing Hands School of Holistic Health
📍 Escondido, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
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📍 North Hollywood, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
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📍 Springfield, MO
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
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📍 Cleveland, OH
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
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📍 Sandy Springs, GA
Award
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Pensacola School of Massage Therapy & Health Careers
📍 Pensacola, FL
Award
Federal dataset match
Trade School
New York Institute of Massage Inc
📍 Williamsville, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
Concorde Career College-Southaven
📍 Southaven, MS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis
📍 Minneapolis, MN
Award
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork
📍 Lancaster, PA
Award
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School
📍 Urbandale, IA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois
📍 Springfield, IL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
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📍 Memphis, TN
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy
📍 Medford, MA
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
CUNY Queensborough Community College
📍 Bayside, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Columbus State Community College
📍 Columbus, OH
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Unitech Training Academy-Lafayette
📍 Lafayette, LA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
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📍 Long Island City, NY
Award
Federal dataset match
Career College
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📍 Wichita, KS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
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📍 Elizabethton, TN
Award
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers
📍 Hollywood, FL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
WellSpring School of Allied Health-Lawrence
📍 Lawrence, KS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
Carrington College-Albuquerque
📍 Albuquerque, NM
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
Southeastern College-Charleston
📍 North Charleston, SC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Universal Healthcare Careers College
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
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📍 Ranchos de Taos, NM
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
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📍 Lynchburg, VA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Boardman
📍 Boardman, OH
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Unitech Training Academy-West Monroe
📍 West Monroe, LA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
American Institute of Alternative Medicine
📍 East Brunswick, NJ
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Federal dataset match
Career College
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts
📍 Tempe, AZ
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
Great Lakes Institute of Technology
📍 Erie, PA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
Universal College of Healing Arts
📍 Omaha, NE
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
North-West College-West Covina
📍 West Covina, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County
📍 Newark, OH
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
📍 Fergus Falls, MN
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Unitech Training Academy-New Orleans
📍 New Orleans, LA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Community College of Allegheny County
📍 Pittsburgh, PA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
The Salon Professional Academy-Fargo
📍 Fargo, ND
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Medical Career & Technical College
📍 Richmond, KY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Ivy Tech Community College
📍 Indianapolis, IN
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus
📍 Albany, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Tarrant County College District
📍 Fort Worth, TX
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Suffolk County Community College
📍 Selden, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-West Palm Beach
📍 West Palm Beach, FL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southwestern Community College
📍 Sylva, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Mildred Elley-Pittsfield Campus
📍 Pittsfield, MA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Unitech Training Academy-Alexandria
📍 Alexandria, LA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Center for Neurosomatic Studies
📍 Clearwater, FL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Unitech Training Academy-Baton Rouge
📍 Baton Rouge, LA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Connecticut State Community College
📍 Hartford, CT
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northland Community and Technical College
📍 Thief River Falls, MN
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Finger Lakes Community College
📍 Canandaigua, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
📍 Coon Rapids, MN
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
River Valley Community College
📍 Claremont, NH
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Great Bay Community College
📍 Portsmouth, NH
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Davidson-Davie Community College
📍 Thomasville, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Sandhills Community College
📍 Pinehurst, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
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📍 Hallandale Beach, FL
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Federal dataset match
Community College
Southern Maine Community College
📍 South Portland, ME
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Milwaukee Area Technical College
📍 Milwaukee, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Iowa Lakes Community College
📍 Estherville, IA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
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📍 Mason City, IA
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
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📍 New Orleans, LA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
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📍 Clarksburg, WV
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Federal dataset match
Community College
New River Community and Technical College
📍 Beaver, WV
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
The Salon Professional Academy-Battle Creek
📍 Battle Creek, MI
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Coastal Pines Technical College
📍 Waycross, GA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Allegany College of Maryland
📍 Cumberland, MD
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Johnston Community College
📍 Smithfield, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northampton County Area Community College
📍 Bethlehem, PA
Award
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center
📍 Springville, PA
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College
📍 Utica, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain
📍 Mena, AR
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
📍 Valdosta, GA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Anne Arundel Community College
📍 Arnold, MD
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
White Mountains Community College
📍 Berlin, NH
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Roane State Community College
📍 Harriman, TN
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northern Wyoming Community College District
📍 Sheridan, WY
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Barton County Community College
📍 Great Bend, KS
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Johnson County Community College
📍 Overland Park, KS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
North Shore Community College
📍 Danvers, MA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Waubonsee Community College
📍 Sugar Grove, IL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
La James International College-Davenport
📍 Davenport, IA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
📍 Perkinston, MS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
North Country Community College
📍 Saranac Lake, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville
📍 McMinnville, TN
Award
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa
📍 Tampa, FL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
American Institute of Massage Therapy
📍 Santa Ana, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Lakeland
📍 Lakeland, FL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
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📍 Casselberry, FL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southern Regional Technical College
📍 Thomasville, GA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
Garden State Science and Technology Institute
📍 Jersey City, NJ
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton
📍 Morrilton, AR
Award
Federal dataset match
Career College
La James International College-Cedar Falls
📍 Cedar Falls, IA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
La James International College-Johnston
📍 Johnston, IA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
St Clair County Community College
📍 Port Huron, MI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Pearl River Community College
📍 Poplarville, MS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Central Oregon Community College
📍 Bend, OR
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southern Union State Community College
📍 Wadley, AL
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mountwest Community and Technical College
📍 Huntington, WV
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Westmoreland County Community College
📍 Youngwood, PA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Gateway Community and Technical College
📍 Florence, KY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Niagara County Community College
📍 Sanborn, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Forsyth Technical Community College
📍 Winston-Salem, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Butler County Community College
📍 Butler, PA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
Gwinnett College-Sandy Springs
📍 Sandy Springs, GA
Certificate 2-4yr
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