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Clinical dietitian vs nutritional consultant

The differences between clinical dietitians and nutritional consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a clinical dietitian and a nutritional consultant. Additionally, a nutritional consultant has an average salary of $62,346, which is higher than the $59,133 average annual salary of a clinical dietitian.

The top three skills for a clinical dietitian include patients, patient care and medical nutrition therapy. The most important skills for a nutritional consultant are diabetes, weight loss, and nutrition assessments.

Clinical dietitian vs nutritional consultant overview

Clinical DietitianNutritional Consultant
Yearly salary$59,133$62,346
Hourly rate$28.43$29.97
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs57,50015,581
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a clinical dietitian do?

A clinical dietitian is responsible for providing quality nutritional care for patients by monitoring their current health conditions, advising nutritional and dietary supplements to maintain their healthy lifestyle, and speed up their recovery process. Clinical dietitians often coordinate with other medical professionals to assess food choices and develop nutrition programs for the patients. A clinical dietitian must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry to offer the best services to the patients and accurately handle their inquiries and concerns.

What does a nutritional consultant do?

A Nutritional Consultant provides assistance regarding food service and nutritional programs. They help patients improve their health and control of disease.

Clinical dietitian vs nutritional consultant salary

Clinical dietitians and nutritional consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical DietitianNutritional Consultant
Average salary$59,133$62,346
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $80,000Between $30,000 And $125,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyUniversity of CaliforniaWayne County, Michigan
Best paying industryHealth CareAgriculture

Differences between clinical dietitian and nutritional consultant education

There are a few differences between a clinical dietitian and a nutritional consultant in terms of educational background:

Clinical DietitianNutritional Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorDieteticsFood And Nutrition
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Clinical dietitian vs nutritional consultant demographics

Here are the differences between clinical dietitians' and nutritional consultants' demographics:

Clinical DietitianNutritional Consultant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 8.7% Female, 91.3%Male, 22.6% Female, 77.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 10.0% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 9.1% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between clinical dietitian and nutritional consultant duties and responsibilities

Clinical dietitian example responsibilities.

  • Provide personalize nutrition counseling to clients managing diabetes, lipid disorders, hypertension & obesity.
  • Collaborate with diabetes educator to achieve AADE accreditation for the diabetes education program and to provide education as an instructor.
  • Develop nutrition assessments and provide individual nutrition interventions for post-surgical/medical patients entering rehabilitation.
  • Provide nutritional care for general medical population; assess nutritional status of ICU patients and implement nutritional intervention.
  • Perform nutrition evaluations and education for rehab patients; complete MDS forms and participate in interdisciplinary team meetings.
  • Sole nutrition department member participating in daily and weekly integrative team rounds for oncology and high risk maternity patients.
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Nutritional consultant example responsibilities.

  • Manage the in-store dietitian program providing nutrition education, culinary workshops, food demonstrations, and nutritional assessments.
  • Specialize in weight loss, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and lactose intolerance
  • Provide nutrition assessments, counseling and diabetes education to visually impair population individually and in group setting.
  • Ensure compliance to USDA requirements.
  • Conduct BMI and weigh-ins for insurance members during health insurance out reach events.
  • Help clients with food allergies and auto immune disorders to construct a healing diet.
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Clinical dietitian vs nutritional consultant skills

Common clinical dietitian skills
  • Patients, 35%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 7%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • Nutrition Services, 3%
  • Diabetes, 3%
Common nutritional consultant skills
  • Diabetes, 9%
  • Weight Loss, 7%
  • Nutrition Assessments, 6%
  • Food Service, 6%
  • Menu Planning, 5%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 4%

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