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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 | Nutritionist | |
| Yearly salary | $38,671 | $49,877 |
| Hourly rate | $18.59 | $23.98 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 63,129 | 698 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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 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 coaches and nutritionists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Health Coach | Nutritionist | |
| Average salary | $38,671 | $49,877 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $55,000 | Between $30,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Eureka, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | Cargill |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Finance |
There are a few differences between a health coach and a nutritionist in terms of educational background:
| Health Coach | Nutritionist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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 nutritionists' demographics:
| Health Coach | Nutritionist | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.9% Female, 79.1% | Male, 15.8% Female, 84.2% |
| 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, 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 | 21% | 8% |