Employment Spot

Dietitians and Nutritionists

As anyone who pays attention to current events knows, stories about American’s waist lines are always in the headlines. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States is dietitians and nutritionists. Employment opportunities in this industry is expected to grow “faster than average” through 2014. Many people who have consulted dietitians or nutritionists are familiar with some of their duties and responsibilities, but there are many different tasks and specializations possible within the field. Dietitians and nutritionists perform some or all of the following tasks:

• Plan food and nutrition programs.
• Supervise the preparation and serving of meals.
• Prevent and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating habits
• Recommend dietary modifications for the overweight
• Manage food service systems for institutions such as hospitals and schools.
• Promote sound eating habits through education.
• Conduct research.
• Assess patients’ nutritional needs, develop and implement nutrition programs, and evaluate and report the results.
• Confer with doctors to coordinate medical and nutritional needs.
• Specialize in the management of overweight patients or in the care of critically ill or renal (kidney) and diabetic patients.
• Counsel individuals and groups on nutritional practices designed to prevent disease and promote health.
• Provide instruction on grocery shopping and food preparation to the elderly, individuals with special needs and children.
• Analyze foods, prepare literature for distribution or report on issues such as the nutritional content of recipes, dietary fiber or vitamin supplements.
• Oversee large-scale meal planning and preparation in health care facilities, company cafeterias, prisons and schools.
• Perform nutrition screenings for clients and offer advice on diet-related concerns such as weight loss and cholesterol reduction.

The required education and training for dietitians and nutritionists is at least a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, or a related area. Some colleges and universities have developed special concentrations or courses for students interested in working as a dietitian or nutritionist. Students who cannot access a specific program should take courses in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology and related courses. To be successful and employable, students should also consider courses in areas such as mathematics, business, statistics, computer science, psychology and sociology. These courses will help adapt nutritionists and dietitians to different types of employment or specific companies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that dietitians and nutritionists in many states must be licensed, registered or certified.

Nutritionist Salary Calculator

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Current Nutritionist Employment Opportunities

• Registered Dietitian
  Location: US-TX-San Antonio
  Company: HCR ManorCare
  Last Updated: 11/15
  Details: HCR ManorCare provides a range of services, including skilled nursing care, assisted living, post-acute medical and rehabilitation care, hospice care, home health care and rehabilitation therapy. Coordinates nutritional care of residents by completing


• View more Nutritionist Employment Opportunites

Most dietitians and nutritionists work in hospitals, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers or private offices of physicians and health practitioners. Approximately 20 percent of employed dietitians and nutritionists worked in state facilities such as correctional facilities, public health centers and health departments. The food service industry also employs many dietitians and nutritionists as consultants or advisors. Independent dietitians and nutritionists may work for colleges and universities, airlines or company cafeterias.

The number of employed dietitians and nutritionists is expected to increase largely due to the continual aging of baby boomers and their need for special diets or nutritional care. The increase in the number of people who consult dietitians and nutritionists on the advice of their doctors has also spurred the need for qualified workers. The average salary for a dietitian or nutritionist is approximately $53,800 if he or she is in consultation or business. The average salary for a worker in food or nutrition management is $60,000. Dietitians and nutritionists in research and education earn approximately $60,200. Salaries vary greatly by experience level, type of work, employer and location within the United States.