Clinical dietitians and clinical nutritionists: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Clinical dietitians and clinical nutritionists provide medical nutrition therapy. They work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, private practice, and other institutions. They create customized nutritional programs based on the health needs of patients or residents and counsel patients on how to improve their health through nutrition. Clinical dietitians and clinical nutritionists may further specialize, such as by working only with patients with specific conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, or digestive disorders.
- Education Required
- Dietitians and nutritionists typically need a bachelors degree in dietetics, foods and nutrition, clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, or a related area. Dietitians also may study food service systems management. Programs include courses in nutrition, psychology, chemistry, and biology.
- Training Required
- Dietitians and nutritionists typically receive several hundred hours of supervised training, usually in the form of an internship following graduation from college. Some schools offer coordinated programs in dietetics that allow students to complete supervised training as part of their undergraduate or graduate-level coursework.
- Job Outlook
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The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 14% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Many states require dietitians and nutritionists to be licensed in order to practice. Other states require only state registration or certification to use certain titles, and a few states have no regulations for this occupation.
- Median pay: How much do Dietitians and Nutritionists make?
- $58,920 Annual Salary
- $28.33 per hour
Careers for Dietitians and Nutritionists
- Clinical dietitians
- Clinical nutritionists
- Community dietitians
- Community dietitians and community nutritionists
- Community nutritionists
- Diet counselors
- Dietitians
- Food service dietitians
- Management dietitians
- Nutritionists
- Pediatric dietitians
- Public health dietitians
- Public health nutritionists
- Research dietitians
- Sports nutritionists
- Therapeutic dietitians