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Dietitian or Nutritionist

Overview and Key Facts

nutritionist pointing to apple
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$73,850
Job Growth
Job Growth
5.50%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
95,900

What Do They Do?

A dietitian or nutritionist could...

 
barcode scan nutrition label
Submit food data for a nutrition tracking program, which people can use at grocery stores and restaurants.
elderly patient eating healthy food in hospital room
Oversee the meals prepared in a hospital kitchen to ensure that patients' dietary needs are met.
food testing
Conduct research to determine how the nutrient levels in different foods are altered during cooking.
nutrition teacher
Educate people about how to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
 
barcode scan nutrition label elderly patient eating healthy food in hospital room food testing nutrition teacher

Overview Listen to this section

Ever wondered who plans the school lunch, food for patients at a hospital, or the meals for athletes at the Olympics? The answer is dietitians and nutritionists! A dietitian or nutritionist's job is to supervise the planning and preparation of meals to ensure that people—like students, patients, and athletes—are getting the right foods to make them as healthy and as strong as possible. Some dietitians and nutritionists also work to educate people about good food choices so they can cook and eat their own healthy meals.
Watch this video to learn more about the unique, diverse and rewarding career in dietetics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZC2DMgub1o

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Dietitian or Nutritionist?


  1. Social Perceptiveness: ?
  2. Judgment and Decision Making: ?
  3. Active Listening: ?
  4. Speaking: ?
  5. Reading Comprehension: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Dietitian or Nutritionist might do:
  • Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions, and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling.
  • Evaluate laboratory tests in preparing nutrition recommendations.
  • Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.
  • Advise patients and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans, diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.
  • Incorporate patient cultural, ethnic, or religious preferences and needs in the development of nutrition plans.
  • Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client.
  • Record and evaluate patient and family health and food history, including symptoms, environmental toxic exposure, allergies, medication factors, and preventive health-care measures.
  • Develop recipes and menus to address special nutrition needs, such as low glycemic, low histamine, or gluten- or allergen-free.
  • Coordinate diet counseling services.
  • Develop curriculum and prepare manuals, visual aids, course outlines, and other materials used in teaching.
  • Plan and conduct training programs in dietetics, nutrition, and institutional management and administration for medical students, health-care personnel, and the general public.
  • Plan, conduct, and evaluate dietary, nutritional, and epidemiological research.
  • Write research reports and other publications to document and communicate research findings.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Dietitian or Nutritionist Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Dietitian or Nutritionist jobs (5.50%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Dietitian or Nutritionist

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Becoming a dietitian or nutritionist usually requires at least a bachelor's degree in dietetics, foods and nutrition, food service systems management, or a related area. A master's degree can help some workers to advance their careers, particularly in career paths related to research, advanced clinical positions, or public health.

Requirements differ by location, but many states require dietitians and nutritionists to be licensed. Additionally, although not required by law, many employers prefer to hire dietitians and nutritionists who have been certified as Registered Dietitians by the American Dietetic Association. To maintain a Registered Dietitian status, workers must complete at least 75 credit hours in approved continuing education classes every 5 years.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

High school students interested in becoming a dietitian or nutritionist should take courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, health, and communications. Following high school, students will need to enter into a bachelor's degree in dietetics, foods and nutrition, food service systems management, or a related area. College students in these majors take courses in foods, nutrition, institution management, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, and physiology. Other suggested courses include business, mathematics, statistics, computer science, psychology, sociology, and economics.

Dietitians and nutritionists interested in advancing to positions related to research, some clinical specialties, or public health oversight will have better employment prospects if they obtain a master's degree. Nutritionists interested in research should also take a heavier concentration of courses that emphasize chemistry and biochemistry laboratory techniques.

Companies That Hire Dietitian or Nutritionists

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Gloria Stables has combined caring for patients and doing research in her dietitian and nutrition career.
I help review and synthesize the latest research to determine which interventions are effective in increasing vegetable and fruit consumption, to ultimately decrease cancer risk. 
Gloria Stables, Ph.D.
In this interview, discover how Scott Smith has designed a career path that combines designing nutrition programs and working with astronauts.
In a nutshell, our job is to determine the nutritional requirements for extended-duration space flight ... how many calories astronauts need in a day, how much calcium, iron, sodium, vitamins, minerals, etc 
Scott Smith, Ph.D.

Nature of the Work

Dietitians and nutritionists plan food and nutrition programs, and supervise the preparation and serving of meals. They help prevent and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating habits and suggesting diet modifications, such as less salt for those with high blood pressure or reduced fat and sugar intake for those who are overweight.

Dietitians run food-service systems for institutions such as hospitals and schools, promote sound eating habits through education, and conduct research. Major areas of practice include: clinical, community, management, and consultant dietetics, and nutritional research.

  • Clinical dietitians provide nutritional services for patients in institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes. They assess patients' nutritional needs, develop and implement nutrition programs, and evaluate and report the results. They also confer with doctors and other healthcare professionals in order to coordinate medical and nutritional needs. Some clinical dietitians specialize in the management of overweight patients, care of the critically ill, or of renal (kidney) and diabetic patients. In addition, clinical dietitians in nursing homes, small hospitals, or correctional facilities also may manage the food-service department.
  • Community dietitians counsel individuals and groups on nutritional practices designed to prevent disease and promote good health. Working in places such as public health clinics, home health agencies, and health maintenance organizations, they evaluate individual needs, develop nutritional care plans, and instruct individuals and their families. Dietitians working in home health agencies provide instruction on grocery shopping and food preparation to the elderly, individuals with special needs, and children.
  • Management dietitians oversee large-scale meal planning and preparation in healthcare facilities, company cafeterias, prisons, and schools. They hire, train, and direct other dietitians and food service workers; budget for and purchase food, equipment, and supplies; enforce sanitary and safety regulations; and prepare records and reports.
  • Consultant dietitians work under contract with healthcare facilities or in their own private practice. They perform nutrition screenings for their clients, and offer advice on diet-related concerns such as weight loss or cholesterol reduction. Some work for wellness programs, sports teams, supermarkets, and other nutrition-related businesses. They may consult with food-service managers, providing expertise in sanitation, safety procedures, menu development, budgeting, and planning.
  • Nutritional researchers work in research settings. They investigate how the nutritional makeup of food is altered by various cooking and storing methods. Nutritional researchers may also run experiments to learn more about how people react to different nutrients and how their nutritional requirements change under unusual circumstances, like prolonged time in zero gravity on board the international space station.

Increased interest in nutrition has led to additional opportunities in food manufacturing, advertising, and marketing, in which dietitians analyze foods, prepare literature for distribution, or report on issues such as the nutritional content of recipes, dietary fiber, or vitamin supplements.

Work Environment

Dietitians and nutritionists usually work in clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas. However, those who directly oversee meal services may spend significant amounts of time in hot, congested kitchens. Many dietitians and nutritionists are on their feet for much of the workday.

Most full-time dietitians and nutritionists work a regular 40-hour week, although some work weekends. Part time work schedules are also common for dietitians and nutritionists; in 2006 approximately one in three worked part time.

Nutritionists involved in research may spend a large portion of their time in laboratories or analyzing data in front of a computer.

More Information

Ask Questions

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