Healthcare practitioners
Dietitians and nutritionists
Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.
Median pay
$76,400
Growth to 2035
+8%
faster than average
Openings a year
5,700
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Dietitians and nutritionists
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Dietitians and nutritionists: 17% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: Clinical Dietician · Clinical Dietitian · Clinical Nutritionist · Dietitian · Nutritionist · Oncology Dietitian · Outpatient Dietitian · Registered Dietician
Outlook and AI
Dietitians and nutritionists held 86,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 93,000 by 2035 (+8%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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