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The differences between dietary aides and nutrition specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a dietary aide and a nutrition specialist. Additionally, a nutrition specialist has an average salary of $53,989, which is higher than the $28,005 average annual salary of a dietary aide.
The top three skills for a dietary aide include patients, meal trays and food service. The most important skills for a nutrition specialist are patients, PET, and nutritional care.
| Dietary Aide | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $28,005 | $53,989 |
| Hourly rate | $13.46 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 44,494 | 20,074 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A dietary aide is responsible for assisting food preparations and ensuring that the meals adhere to an individual's specific diet plans. Dietary aides must strictly follow sanitation standards and hygiene procedures to guarantee the safety and quality of the service. They also help in facilitating kitchen maintenance, keeping every area clean and organized. Dietary aides must also have comprehensive knowledge of nutritional guidelines to provide information and share suggestions as necessary to improve the service and preparations.
Nutrition specialists are skilled professionals who possess detailed knowledge of foods that are necessary for human health and growth. These specialists are required to provide comprehensive nutrition services to patients who are admitted to community health centers and specialty clinics for medical nutrition therapy. They must create diets and meal plans for patients based on their medical and dietary needs. Nutrition specialists must also organize community outreach efforts and other funded nutrition programs to encourage participation from professionals and lay groups.
Dietary aides and nutrition specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dietary Aide | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Average salary | $28,005 | $53,989 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $35,000 | Between $34,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Vancouver, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Lifespan | Children's Hospital Colorado |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a dietary aide and a nutrition specialist in terms of educational background:
| Dietary Aide | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Dietetics |
| Most common college | - | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between dietary aides' and nutrition specialists' demographics:
| Dietary Aide | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.2% Female, 71.8% | Male, 26.5% Female, 73.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |