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Job outlook for nutrition counselors in the United States
Are nutrition counselor jobs in demand?
Nutrition counselor job and salary trends over time
Nutrition counselor jobs over time
Nutrition counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,540 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,532 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,563 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,493 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,454 | 0.00% |
Average nutrition counselor salary over time
Nutrition counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $49,744 | $23.92 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $48,309 | $23.23 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $47,599 | $22.88 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $46,842 | $22.52 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $46,456 | $22.33 | +1.7% |
Nutrition counselor jobs by state
Most common states for nutrition counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 90 | 13% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 73 | 7% |
| 3 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 223 | 6% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 62 | 6% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 45 | 6% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 44 | 6% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 36 | 6% |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 680 | 5% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 378 | 5% |
| 10 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 327 | 5% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 263 | 5% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 258 | 5% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 69 | 5% |
| 14 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 44 | 5% |
| 15 | New York | 19,849,399 | 840 | 4% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 377 | 4% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 272 | 4% |
| 18 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 164 | 4% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 79 | 4% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 26 | 4% |
Most common cities for nutrition counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage | 1 | 0% | $71,512 |
Nutrition Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of nutrition counselor experts
University of Illinois at Chicago
Springfield College
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Clemson University
University of Nebraska at Omaha
King's College
Carolina Christian College
Montana State University – Bozeman
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Ohio University
University of Florida
Elms College
Angelo State University
What general advice would you give to a Nutrition Counselor?
Dr. Kerry Smith: The field of Nutrition Science has the potential to be quite lucrative. Those with a degree in Nutrition Science can additionally move into Dietetics and become a Registered Dietician or Registered Sports Dietician. The Sport careers are becoming more robust in the college setting following the NCAA changes regarding to fueling stations a little over a decade ago. Additionally, working in private practice providing nutritional services allows for job flexibility and autonomy. By working in a private practice there are opportunities to offer additional services that are unavailable through standard insurance coverages making your business more marketable and profitable.
What Nutrition Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kerry Smith: I think having a foundational knowledge of nutrition is imperative in the field. It might sound simple, but it’s no different than physical therapy. In physical therapy, you need to have the foundational knowledge of anatomy in order to progress to other areas. Understanding the foundational ideas in nutrition are imperative and fundamental. From there, staying up to date with the trends in the industry. Currently, we are seeing a rise in weight loss drugs among Americans over the last few years. Additionally, the field is dynamic with constant new quick-fix concepts on how to lose weight or diet. Being able to counsel clientele on the benefits and risks of a constant-evolving field is imperative to being successful. Finally, understanding the emotional and physiological stress food can have on people. Simply counseling a client on solely food and not discussing the emotional connection or addictive tendencies is a disservice to the client and the industry. Clinicians should be constantly looking for ways to strengthen these areas to better serve their clientele and become better informed.
What general advice would you give to a Nutrition Counselor?
Maureen McCoy MS RD: Be open to all the possibilities that exist in the world of food and nutrition! The great thing about this field is that there are opportunities in many different areas that you may not have considered before.
What general advice would you give to a Nutrition Counselor?
Kirsten Straughan MS, RD, CSSD: Communication and collaboration skills are critical. All nutrition students have similar content due to our accreditation, but being able to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and collaborate with other disciplines will allow you to be much more impactful in your job. The future of nutrition is also very exciting, and I see areas of growth in applying knowledge about the microbiome and in the area of nutrigenetics.
What will help Nutrition Counselors increase their earning potential?
Kirsten Straughan MS, RD, CSSD: Take advantage of the dietetic internship rotations to explore different areas of dietetics. Remember that you are essentially on a very long job interview…many of our graduates are hired out of their internships.
Shannon Aguilar MS,RD,LD
Assistant Professor of Practice, Didactic Program DirectorWhat general advice would you give to a Nutrition Counselor?
Shannon Aguilar MS,RD,LD: Use the knowledge and skills learned in undergraduate school/experience and be flexible when searching for jobs. For example, be willing to relocate if able if there isn’t a job in your area. Don’t just use salary for your final decision in accepting a job. You need to look at benefits packages such as 401K, insurance coverage and cost, matched savings option, vacation time/paid-time off/holidays when making your decision about job placement.
What will help Nutrition Counselors increase their earning potential?
Shannon Aguilar MS,RD,LD: Be sure to highlight other skills/experience/volunteer work related to nutrition field, such as positions held in student and/or professional nutrition organizations. Explaining what the job responsibilities were and valuing your worth, but understand you still need to gain experience before reaching maximum salary allowance for the job position. If you weren’t a member of professional organization, become one and volunteer in your community in positions related to nutrition such as local food bank or other health-related organizations. Continued education in nutrition related topics, which is already an RD requirement, can also help highlight your knowledge for salary potential. Also, any unique skills such as expert in certain social media platforms or other experience not all dietitians have such as IT.
Megan Harvey Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Health ScienceSpringfield College
School of Health Sciences
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Nutrition Counselor job market given the pandemic?
Megan Harvey Ph.D.: I suspect we'll see a boom in health-related professions, including public health and epidemiology! Health care workers are our front-line heroes, and I suspect many graduating students will consider accelerated nursing degrees and physician assistant graduate programs.
What skills stand out on Nutrition Counselor resumes?
Megan Harvey Ph.D.: More than ever, employers want to hear that students are able to work collaboratively on a team to produce a high quality product. We are giving our students as many opportunities to work across disciplines as possible. This has been true for awhile, but we also hear that employers value students who graduate with the ability to problem solve in a productive way - meaning, problem solve a solution when it's appropriate but being able to recognize which situations require asking for help sooner.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Nutrition Counselors to find work opportunities?
Megan Harvey Ph.D.: I assume you mean geographically - rural areas are in desperate need of health care professionals of every kind. It can be difficult to recruit new graduates to rural areas but those who do find themselves working with this population often find it very rewarding. As a bonus, some of these areas are tied to some generous loan forgiveness programs!
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, Master of CounselingLouisiana State University at Shreveport
Department Of Psychology
What soft skills should all Nutrition Counselors possess?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: Soft skills that are essential for counselors include emotional intelligence, empathy, multicultural competency, interpersonal abilities, and authenticity.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Nutrition Counselors?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: It is important that counselors are able to effectively take notes and summarize progress, interpret assessments, memorize and recall information, and keep clear yet concise records.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Nutrition Counselors?
Xia Jing: I think so. The COVID-19 pandemic is a historic event, on the tragic side, though. I think everyone who experiences the pandemic will have some levels of long-lasting impacts in their professional or personal lives. For example, their views about public health, one's individual privacy versus public health needs regarding health information sharing, how to have a balanced eco-system between humans and the natural environment and other lives on the earth, self-discipline, be responsible to oneself and to the ones we contact, intentionally or unintentionally. If some of the recognitions/understandings are at the philosophical level, then the impacts may last much longer in one's professional and personal lives.
What's a day at work look like for a Nutrition Counselor?
Xia Jing: I think a recent graduate faces some unprecedented realities, which very few of us have prior experience. A recent graduate must be prepared to function and thrive without detailed instruction or guidance. This may take a lot of judgment and creativity, which can be tricky for an inexperienced newly graduate; however, this is a reality we have to cope with on a daily basis. On the bright side, this is a great opportunity to grow, to explore your own boundary, and to become a better version of yourselves rapidly.
What technical skills for a Nutrition Counselor stand out to employers?
Xia Jing: Programming skills, analytic skills, Web development experience, a deep understanding of health system operations in the USA, and a great understanding of medicine and health care delivery will be big pluses in the field. In addition to the technical skills, learning capabilities, adaptabilities, creativities, problem solving, pay attention to details, perform in a team are all critical characteristics in health informatics.
Dr. Dustin Russel Slivka
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha
School of Health and Kinesiology
What's a good job out of college for Nutrition Counselors?
Dr. Dustin Russel Slivka: Everyone wants to make a lot of money and have an easy life. That's not a reality for most people. There will be financial and personal struggles along the way. A good job is one where you are happy, can express your talents, and be able to live within your means. Depending on your personal situation, having insurance and other benefits may be an important aspect of a good job, but you need to like what you do.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Nutrition Counselor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Dustin Russel Slivka: I believe we will continue to see all aspects of health and wellness come to the forefront. The pandemic has been a big wake-up call for individuals as well as governments to take our health seriously. This could be from a research perspective but also a practitioner's perspective. I think this will become evident in the job market.
What technical skills for a Nutrition Counselor stand out to employers?
Dr. Dustin Russel Slivka: For most jobs you need to at least check all the boxes of the technical skills. In today's market that may still not be enough to get that job. You need to find a way to set yourself apart. You need to seek out additional opportunities during your training. You need to be involved in the field and in your community. You need to be yourself and explore your own interests that make you an individual and not just another application that checks the boxes. I think UNO does a great job at helping students discover themselves, find unique opportunities, and become more than just checked boxes of technical skills.
What experience really stands out on Nutrition Counselor resumes?
Diane M. DellaValle PhD, RDN, LDN: For me, students who have had ANY "helping" volunteer and research experience and who can more importantly translate those experiences into reflections (e.g., what they have gleaned from those experiences and why those experiences drove them to where they are or helped them to get to where they are going) is key for me to understand.
What type of skills will young Nutrition Counselors need?
Dr. Andrew Wood: For Biblical Studies, it is vital that graduates have a genuine relationship with Jesus, that they are people of humility and integrity, desire to be lifelong learners, and have open minds to new things they learn that may challenge their original assumptions. They need to have a strong work ethic, organizational, and time management skills to work on their own productively and with integrity.
Dr. Mark Nelson
Professor and Program LeaderMontana State University – Bozeman
Department of Health and Human Development; Graduate Program – School Counseling
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Nutrition Counselors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mark Nelson: Rocky Mountain and western states seem to have many opportunities. This may be due to the westward migration in the U.S. population.
What type of skills will young Nutrition Counselors need?
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.: Indeed, the way we work is changing. The skills that young graduates will need are diverse. Transferable skills and soft skills will certainly be marketable. These include traditional crafts such as communication, but I also think the world expects more empathy from its employees. Young graduates with an understanding of racism, sexism, and environmental responsibility will become increasingly important.
How do you envision technology impacting Nutrition Counselors in the next 5 years?
Christine Suniti Bhat: The pandemic has already altered the way in which school counselors are engaging with their students. The importance of learning management systems and dynamic tools to interact with students online will continue to grow. School counselors will have to be prepared to deliver individual services as well as group and class interventions using technologies such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
This is something that we would not have anticipated five years ago. School counselors may also have to address issues related to isolation, loneliness, and excessive screen time, along with some of the issues that are related to the misuse of technology such as cyberbullying and sexting. Prevention (before problems arise) and intervention (addressing issues after they arise) are both important. Overall, health and wellness in relation to the use of technology will become more important.
Dr. Jeanette Andrade
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Florida
Food Science and Human Nutrician Department
What general advice would you give to a Nutrition Counselor?
Dr. Jeanette Andrade: Be comfortable with negotiating. Possibly salary may be challenging to negotiate, yet there are other incentives such as paying for memberships to organizations, conferences, continuing education, etc.
What general advice would you give to a Nutrition Counselor?
Dr. Meredith Bertrand: History is ever-changing, and teachers must clarify how current events are just as much a part of the study of history as any other socio-political period or event. If you are not comparing the civil rights movement of today to the ongoing civil rights movements of the past, and if you are not supporting the campaign against oppression and institutional racism upon which our nation was built, then you are doing continuous harm to those who need you to act and disrupt the cycle. History teachers better be ready to be activists, not just teachers, or else you are perpetuating the status quo.
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.
Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and InstructionAngelo State University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Nutrition Counselors in the next 3-5 years?
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.: Graduates will need to learn to use technology in which virtual platforms are taking place and web conferencing platforms. Numerous platforms are being used, so the particular platform itself is not as crucial as being well-versed in how virtual education differs from face-to-face environments. Typically, the instructional role in online learning is more of a facilitator, as the educator guides the students to think critically, integrate, and apply new knowledge. This may be difficult for educators who would rather stand in front of a classroom and pass on their knowledge through lecture-based formats. Additionally, being well-versed in various web conferencing platforms will benefit graduates, as they move into a career that is currently requiring communication in virtual environments.