Nutritionist + Dietitian Salary 2026/27: NHS + Private Take-Home
Dietitians are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and qualify through an approved degree, entering the NHS on Agenda for Change Band 5 (£32,073 to £39,043 in 2026/27) and progressing through Bands 6 and 7 to consultant posts at Band 8. "Nutritionist" is not a protected title. ONS codes dietitians to SOC 2020 unit group 2259, full-time median £42,079 in ASHE 2025, and nutritionists to 2229, median £37,599.
Typical pay & take-home
- Median gross
- £42,079
- ASHE 2025, 25th to 75th percentile
- £34,346–£49,077
- Take-home at median
- £30,517 England, after the 9.8% NHS pension contribution, Income Tax and NI.
At the median for this profession, you earn about 8% above the UK full-time median (£39,039), placing you between the 50th percentile (£39,039) and the 75th percentile (£54,009) of UK full-time earnings.
What influences nutritionist / dietitian pay
Title and registration matter. "Dietitian" is a title protected by law: only someone registered with the Health and Care Professions Council may use it, and NHS clinical dietetic posts are filled by registered dietitians. "Nutritionist" is not protected; the Association for Nutrition runs a voluntary register, and nutritionists more often work in public health, industry, wellbeing or self-employed practice.
NHS dietitians are paid on Agenda for Change. For 2026/27 Band 5 runs £32,073 to £39,043, Band 6 £39,959 to £48,117, Band 7 £49,387 to £56,515, and consultant posts at Bands 8a to 8c £57,528 to £91,609. The NHS Pension Scheme contribution is banded on pensionable pay and taken before Income Tax.
The two ONS groups measure different populations. SOC 2020 2259 (other health professionals n.e.c., which includes dietitians) had an ASHE 2025 full-time median of £42,079, middle half £34,346 to £49,077. SOC 2229 (therapy professionals n.e.c., which includes nutritionists) had a median of £37,599, middle half £30,092 to £48,526. Both count employees only, so self-employed nutritionists are outside them.
Career progression
- Dietetic assistant or support worker (NHS Band 3-4): £25,760 to £31,157.
- Newly qualified dietitian, NHS Band 5: £32,073 to £39,043.
- Specialist dietitian, Band 6: £39,959 to £48,117.
- Advanced dietitian or team lead, Band 7: £49,387 to £56,515.
- Consultant dietitian, Band 8a to 8c: £57,528 to £91,609.
- Private or self-employed nutrition practice: income depends on caseload and costs; no official series measures it.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the take-home for an NHS Band 5 Dietitian?
- On £32,073 at Band 5 entry, with the 8.3% NHS pension contribution, take-home is about £24,483 a year, or £2,040 a month, after Income Tax, National Insurance and pension. At the £39,043 top of Band 5 the contribution rate is 9.8% and take-home is about £28,570 a year, or £2,381 a month.
- Nutritionist vs Dietitian - which earns more?
- On the ONS figures, the dietitians' group earns more: an ASHE 2025 full-time median of £42,079 for SOC 2259 against £37,599 for SOC 2229, where nutritionists are coded. The groups include other occupations too, so the gap is indicative rather than exact. Neither covers self-employed practitioners, whose income no official series measures.
Related professions
Sources
- NHS Employers - Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27
- NHS Employers - NHS Pension Scheme member contribution rates
- ONS - ASHE 2025 Table 14.7a, annual pay by SOC 2020 occupation
- ONS — Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 (UK full-time median and percentiles)
- HMRC — Rates and thresholds 2026/27
- Our full methodology & calculation sources →