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Health coach vs nutritionist

The differences between health coaches and nutritionists 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 nutritionist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a nutritionist has an average salary of $49,877, 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 nutritionist are patients, public health, and wic program.

Health coach vs nutritionist overview

Health CoachNutritionist
Yearly salary$38,671$49,877
Hourly rate$18.59$23.98
Growth rate12%7%
Number of jobs63,129698
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4342
Years of experience42

What does a health coach do?

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.

What does a nutritionist do?

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.

Health coach vs nutritionist salary

Health coaches and nutritionists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health CoachNutritionist
Average salary$38,671$49,877
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $55,000Between $30,000 And $80,000
Highest paying CityEureka, CASanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyMassachusetts General HospitalCargill
Best paying industryHealth CareFinance

Differences between health coach and nutritionist education

There are a few differences between a health coach and a nutritionist in terms of educational background:

Health CoachNutritionist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorNursingDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Minnesota - Twin CitiesUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Health coach vs nutritionist demographics

Here are the differences between health coaches' and nutritionists' demographics:

Health CoachNutritionist
Average age4342
Gender ratioMale, 20.9% Female, 79.1%Male, 15.8% Female, 84.2%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.5% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 9.9% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage21%8%

Differences between health coach and nutritionist duties and responsibilities

Health coach example responsibilities.

  • Participate in workshops and offer lectures on various health topics, aim toward prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
  • Motivate staff to participate in lunch time yoga and strength training exercises as well as cooking demos and office nutrition trivia.
  • Promote, educate and assist individuals in health management including diabetes management, nutrition, stress management and tobacco cessation.
  • Obtain CPR certification before the summer program begin.
  • Maintain and control all hippa-relate patient documentation via EMR.
  • Perform all job duties in compliance with HIPAA guidelines and company confidentiality policies.
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Nutritionist example responsibilities.

  • Lead weekly nutritional education workshops on diabetes management, in addition to providing individual counseling.
  • Inspire patients to proactively manage their diabetes, to include administering insulin and taking prescribe medications.
  • Follow up in the out-patient GI clinic for tube feeding regimens, assessing growth and food allergies.
  • Establish clients via social media; maintain Facebook page.
  • Develop training table menus for all NCAA scholarship athletes and attend training table.
  • Provide complete instruction and advice to patients with diet-relate problems like diabetics, hypertension.
  • Show more

Health coach vs nutritionist skills

Common health coach skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Optimal Health, 11%
  • Disease Management, 6%
  • Ongoing Support, 5%
  • Nutrition Education, 5%
Common nutritionist skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Public Health, 8%
  • WIC Program, 7%
  • RD, 6%
  • Food Service, 6%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 4%

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