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The differences between nutrition assistants and nutrition specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a nutrition assistant and a nutrition specialist. Additionally, a nutrition specialist has an average salary of $53,989, which is higher than the $32,229 average annual salary of a nutrition assistant.
The top three skills for a nutrition assistant include patients, kitchen equipment and food service. The most important skills for a nutrition specialist are patients, PET, and nutritional care.
| Nutrition Assistant | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $32,229 | $53,989 |
| Hourly rate | $15.49 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 7,731 | 20,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Nutrition Assistant makes sure that patients in a healthcare unit are fed according to their dietary needs. They assist in kitchen prep and cooking food.
Nutrition specialists are skilled professionals who possess detailed knowledge of foods that are necessary for human health and growth. These specialists are required to provide comprehensive nutrition services to patients who are admitted to community health centers and specialty clinics for medical nutrition therapy. They must create diets and meal plans for patients based on their medical and dietary needs. Nutrition specialists must also organize community outreach efforts and other funded nutrition programs to encourage participation from professionals and lay groups.
Nutrition assistants and nutrition specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nutrition Assistant | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Average salary | $32,229 | $53,989 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $34,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Brigham and Women's Hospital | Children's Hospital Colorado |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a nutrition assistant and a nutrition specialist in terms of educational background:
| Nutrition Assistant | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Dietetics | Dietetics |
| Most common college | - | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between nutrition assistants' and nutrition specialists' demographics:
| Nutrition Assistant | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.2% Female, 82.8% | Male, 26.5% Female, 73.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |