What Is the Salary of a Dietitian?
Dietitians specialize in the science of nutrition, performing duties such as menu planning, food preparation supervision, nutrition research and patient education. These specialists work in schools, hospitals, assisted-living facilities, nursing homes, prisons and private consulting practices. Salary range is linked to the facilities dietitians work in as well as years of experience and education. Some dietitians work toward registered dietitian status, which is offered by the American Dietetic Association, to improve earnings potential.
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Salaries
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The median dietitian salary in 2008 was $50,590, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest salary reported was less than $31,460 and the highest was $73,410. The highest salary by setting was $52,120 for dietitians working in outpatient care centers.
Another salary reporting site, PayScale, says that registered dietitians earned between $40,664 and $57,482, including bonus pay, as of 2010. And the American Dietetic Association says that half of registered dietitians working for five years or less earn $51,100 to $62,200, according to 2009 data.
Specializations
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Within this field there are several specialties: clinical dietitian, community dietitian, management dietitian and consultant, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Clinical specialists work with patients and their caregivers in healthcare settings. Community dietitians often are based in public health clinics and counsel families on how to purchase food and prepare healthy meals.
Management dietitians run food service operations for healthcare, prison, school and other systems. Their responsibilities include hiring other dietitians and managing budgets. And consultants often work on their own, preparing nutritional assessments and diet-related advice for clients.
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Education
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Dietitians must complete a bachelor's degree in food and nutrition, dietetics or a related field, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some dietitians go on to complete graduate degrees. All students take courses in nutrition, biology, physiology and institutional food service management. Courses in math, statistics, psychology, sociology and economics are recommended.
Licensing
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Check with your state to learn if it requires dietitians to be licensed or certified. The processes and examinations vary from state to state.
The status of registered dietitian, which is sponsored by the American Dietetic Association -- ADA -- is different from licensing and certification and not required to work in the field, but it can be helpful for future advancement. To gain registered dietitian status, you must earn a bachelor's degree from a school accredited by the ADA's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education, complete an internship and pass a national examination.
Job Outlook
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The number of dietitian and nutritionist positions is expected to increase by 9 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During this period, the number of jobs will increase to 65,800 from 60,300, an addition of 5,600 jobs. Factors leading to this increase will include an aging population in need of nutritional counseling and ongoing public health emphasis on healthier lifestyles.
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References
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