The Average Salary of a Clinical Dietitian
While it may be common knowledge that dietitians, or nutritionists, help people develop a healthy lifestyle, you may not know that there are different areas of specialization that dietitians can choose. For example, management dietitians oversee food preparation for cafeterias and other facilities such as schools or large companies. If you're interested in working in a medical facility, consider a career as a clinical dietitian.
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Function
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In general, dietitians are responsible for developing and evaluating healthy eating plans, in addition to monitoring meal preparations in some facilities. Clinical dietitians, in particular, work one on one with individuals with specific health concerns or medical issues.
As a dietitian, you will be providing guidance to people with eating disorders, special dietary needs and chronic diseases such as diabetes. Working in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities, you'll interact with other health-care professionals to develop care plans for patients.
Educational Requirements
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The Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education is responsible for accrediting post-secondary academic programs in dietetics and nutrition. While some graduate-level programs are available, most college programs are at the four-year bachelor level. The majority of your studies involve the sciences including coursework in biology, nutrition, physiology and chemistry. In addition, courses in communications, management and the social sciences are integral parts of academic training for dietitians.
To earn certification through the Commission on Dietetic Registration, you must complete an internship during or after you complete your academic studies.
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Practice Requirements
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As a clinical dietitian, you are required to follow your state's regulations regarding practicing in this field. Most states require dietitians to obtain licensure, but some require certification or registration instead. If you pursue registration through the American Dietetic Association's Commission on Dietetic Registration, you must complete continuing education credits throughout the duration of your career. the Commission requires completion of at least 75 continuing professional education units, or CPEUs, every five years.
Average Salary
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As of May 2009, the mean annual salary for a dietitian was $53,230, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the average salary ranged between $33,000 and $75,000. Dietitians in the three highest-paying states -- Maryland, Nevada and California -- earned between $63,000 and $65,000, according to the Bureau.
Employment Opportunities
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Most job opportunities for clinical dietitians are in hospitals, followed distantly by nursing homes, according to the 2009 employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While opportunities in this field are expected to grow nine percent from 2008 through the year 2018, job growth may be limited due to other professionals taking on the responsibilities of dietitians, such as health educators. Prospects are expected to be more plentiful if you have a graduate degree or have training in a specialization, such as geriatric nutrition.
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References
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