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The differences between dietary assistants and nutrition assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a nutrition assistant has an average salary of $32,229, which is higher than the $28,234 average annual salary of a dietary assistant.
The top three skills for a dietary assistant include patients, food service and meal trays. The most important skills for a nutrition assistant are patients, kitchen equipment, and food service.
| Dietary Assistant | Nutrition Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $28,234 | $32,229 |
| Hourly rate | $13.57 | $15.49 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 12,812 | 7,731 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 37 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A dietary assistant is in charge of the food preparation of individuals in various settings. Dietary aides, dietary assistants cook food, check the compliance of proper procedure in safety and health measures, and maintain a clean environment in the kitchen. The assistants may work part-time or full-time, and during holidays, weekends, or evenings to accommodate customers. People in this position are expected to have experience in food preparation, strong teamwork, and customer-oriented approaches.
A Nutrition Assistant makes sure that patients in a healthcare unit are fed according to their dietary needs. They assist in kitchen prep and cooking food.
Dietary assistants and nutrition assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dietary Assistant | Nutrition Assistant | |
| Average salary | $28,234 | $32,229 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $35,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, WA | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Lifespan | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a dietary assistant and a nutrition assistant in terms of educational background:
| Dietary Assistant | Nutrition Assistant | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Dietetics |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dietary assistants' and nutrition assistants' demographics:
| Dietary Assistant | Nutrition Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% | Male, 17.2% Female, 82.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |