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The differences between health coaches and dietitians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a health coach, becoming a dietitian takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a dietitian has an average salary of $58,480, which is higher than the $38,671 average annual salary of a health coach.
The top three skills for a health coach include customer service, patients and optimal health. The most important skills for a dietitian are patients, medical nutrition therapy, and rehabilitation.
| Health Coach | Dietitian | |
| Yearly salary | $38,671 | $58,480 |
| Hourly rate | $18.59 | $28.12 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 63,129 | 6,164 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A Health Coach is an individual health educator who provides lifestyle and behavior guidance. They work with clients to help them feel their best through food and lifestyle changes.
A dietitian's role is to assist clients in their journey to achieve their health goals. Typically, a dietitian's responsibilities revolve around interviewing and assessing a client's diet needs and goals, learning their preferences and restrictions such as allergies, and crafting a personalized nutrition plan. Moreover, it is essential for a dietitian to monitor a client's progress and maintain information on all accounts. There are also instances where one may promote healthy eating habits to the public, all while keeping abreast of the latest nutrition studies.
Health coaches and dietitians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Health Coach | Dietitian | |
| Average salary | $38,671 | $58,480 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $55,000 | Between $43,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Eureka, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | University of California |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a health coach and a dietitian in terms of educational background:
| Health Coach | Dietitian | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Dietetics |
| Most common college | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between health coaches' and dietitians' demographics:
| Health Coach | Dietitian | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.9% Female, 79.1% | Male, 11.7% Female, 88.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 6.2% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 9.8% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 21% | 8% |