Careers as a Registered Dietician
Career opportunities remain strong for registered dietitians. The U.S. government predicts that the field will grow at a rate slightly faster than the overall job market for the next several years. People who obtain this credential can work in a variety of health, fitness and counseling practices. The industry offers a variety of full-time, part-time and flexible-hour positions. The average salary for a registered dietitian is around $45,000 to $55,000 per year, with salaries increasing with experience in the field. The average salary for an experienced registered dietitian is around $86,000, according to the American Dietetic Association, the industry's major professional group. From patient counseling to teaching, registered dietitians perform vital services to improve the health and well-being of clients through diet.
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
A registered dietitian provides guidance and expertise to treat and prevent disease through diet. Many work as part of a health care team in hospitals, clinics and private practice.
Features
-
Registered dietitians engage in a variety of careers, directing and guiding dietary choices of patients, such as diabetics. Many dietitians write or teach about diet and health.
-
Time Frame
-
A career as a registered dietitian begins with a bachelor's degree in food, nutrition or food science from an accredited institution. An additional 900 hours of supervised practice are also required to earn the title registered dietitian. On average, it takes 4 to 6 years to earn the title registered dietitian.
Benefits
-
Because registered dietitians work in many settings, the major benefit of this job is the flexibility. Dietitians work in corporate settings, hospitals, private practice, universities, fitness centers and more, with flexible work hours available.
Considerations
-
If you're considering a career as a registered dietitian, you will need at least a high school diploma or a GED to enter a bachelor's program at a college or university. You must enjoy working with people and have good mathematics, science and communications skills.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit Registered Dieticians work in a variety of areas.
