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The differences between fitness coaches and nutritionists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a fitness coach, becoming a nutritionist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a nutritionist has an average salary of $49,877, which is higher than the $38,462 average annual salary of a fitness coach.
The top three skills for a fitness coach include CPR, kids and fitness programs. The most important skills for a nutritionist are patients, public health, and wic program.
| Fitness Coach | Nutritionist | |
| Yearly salary | $38,462 | $49,877 |
| Hourly rate | $18.49 | $23.98 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 22,156 | 698 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 37 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A fitness coach specializes in mentoring clients in their journey for a healthier lifestyle, assisting them in reaching their individual goals for physical fitness. Their responsibilities include developing training programs based on the clients' needs, facilitating physical fitness training sessions in an individual or group setting, learning the clients' medical histories for risk prevention, and monitoring the progress of clients, adjusting programs as needed. Furthermore, as a fitness coach, it is essential to build rapport with clients, motivating them to reach their goals.
A nutritionist is a health professional who helps patients choose the right things to eat and advise them on the health effects of certain foods. By being experts in food and nutrition, nutritionists assess a patient's dietary habits and create plan menus for them. They usually work closely with patients who have medical issues such as diabetes or those undergoing chemotherapy. Nutritionists are also required to speak to students or employees about the importance of good nutrition and preventing health problems through proper foods.
Fitness coaches and nutritionists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fitness Coach | Nutritionist | |
| Average salary | $38,462 | $49,877 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $59,000 | Between $30,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | AEA Investors | Cargill |
| Best paying industry | Education | Finance |
There are a few differences between a fitness coach and a nutritionist in terms of educational background:
| Fitness Coach | Nutritionist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Dietetics |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between fitness coaches' and nutritionists' demographics:
| Fitness Coach | Nutritionist | |
| Average age | 37 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7% | Male, 15.8% Female, 84.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 9.9% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 8% |