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Dietetic internship vs public health dietitian

The differences between dietetic interns and public health dietitians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a dietetic internship and a public health dietitian. Additionally, a dietetic internship has an average salary of $64,038, which is higher than the $60,855 average annual salary of a public health dietitian.

The top three skills for a dietetic internship include patients, diabetes education and medical nutrition therapy. The most important skills for a public health dietitian are public health, patients, and wic program.

Dietetic internship vs public health dietitian overview

Dietetic InternshipPublic Health Dietitian
Yearly salary$64,038$60,855
Hourly rate$30.79$29.26
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs52,76566,512
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a dietetic internship do?

In a dietetic internship, an intern primarily performs support tasks to gain industry insights and experience while under a dietitian's directives and supervision. Their duties typically include conducting research and analyses, gathering and analyzing data from previous projects and studies, participating in the development of new meal and nutritional plans, and assisting in food delivery operations. They also take part in assessing a patient's health and treatment plans, providing nutrition education as necessary. Additionally, an intern must produce regular reports and uphold the facility's policies.

What does a public health dietitian do?

Public health dieticians can expect an annual pay of around $65K but require a four-year bachelor's degree and studies in nutrition, physiology, biology, and other related science courses for this career, as well as a skill set that includes organizational, analytical, speaking and people skills. They help coordinate with food suppliers and faculty administrators for the provision of menus that will meet individually-based dietary needs.

Dietetic internship vs public health dietitian salary

Dietetic interns and public health dietitians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Dietetic InternshipPublic Health Dietitian
Average salary$64,038$60,855
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $132,000Between $31,000 And $116,000
Highest paying City-San Mateo, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Amazon
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between dietetic internship and public health dietitian education

There are a few differences between a dietetic internship and a public health dietitian in terms of educational background:

Dietetic InternshipPublic Health Dietitian
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorDieteticsDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Dietetic internship vs public health dietitian demographics

Here are the differences between dietetic interns' and public health dietitians' demographics:

Dietetic InternshipPublic Health Dietitian
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 10.2% Female, 89.8%Male, 5.1% Female, 94.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 9.8% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 9.2% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between dietetic internship and public health dietitian duties and responsibilities

Dietetic internship example responsibilities.

  • Collaborate with diabetes educator to achieve AADE accreditation for the diabetes education program and to provide education as an instructor.
  • Follow up with physician consults, educate patients on nutrition, and take part in IDT meetings and ICU rounds.
  • Complete clinical dietetic rotations which also include specialty rotations in pediatrics, kidney/liver transplant, oncology, and critical care.
  • Acquire excellent interdisciplinary communication skills through ICU and nursing rounds.
  • Communicate breastfeeding, proper infant feeding practices, and provide nutrition education to WIC participants.
  • Work alongside translators in culturally diverse environment to education patients on diabetes, hypertension and healthful eating.
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Public health dietitian example responsibilities.

  • Manage the anemia status of patients by reviewing necessary lab data and initiating or adjusting medication doses.
  • Partner with certify diabetes educator on consulting gestational diabetic patients on glucose monitors and diabetic eating guidelines.
  • Provide diabetes education to community groups.
  • Implement and develop diabetes information newsletters.
  • Provide medical nutrition therapy for medically high risk patients.
  • Write quarterly project newsletters, create tools need to properly assess for obesity causing behaviors and develop educationmaterials as needed.
  • Show more

Dietetic internship vs public health dietitian skills

Common dietetic internship skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Diabetes Education, 5%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
  • Nutrition Assessments, 4%
  • Long-Term Care, 4%
Common public health dietitian skills
  • Public Health, 28%
  • Patients, 15%
  • WIC Program, 7%
  • Nutrition Services, 5%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 5%
  • Community Nutrition, 4%

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