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The differences between nutrition interns 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 internship and a nutrition specialist. Additionally, a nutrition specialist has an average salary of $53,989, which is higher than the $36,506 average annual salary of a nutrition internship.
The top three skills for a nutrition internship include patients, nutrition education programs and nutrition education materials. The most important skills for a nutrition specialist are patients, PET, and nutritional care.
| Nutrition Internship | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $36,506 | $53,989 |
| Hourly rate | $17.55 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 48,204 | 20,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Nutrition interns are individuals who are on the job training for the tasks performed by licensed nutritionists or dieticians. The interns provide a nutrition care process that includes prescription of parenteral and enteral recommendations and analysis of laboratory values. They prepare a case study presentation that applies evidence-based guidelines and nutrition care process research. It is also part of their responsibilities to provide nutrition services, meal plans, and lesson plans.
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 interns and nutrition specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nutrition Internship | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Average salary | $36,506 | $53,989 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $53,000 | Between $34,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Children's Hospital Colorado |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a nutrition internship and a nutrition specialist in terms of educational background:
| Nutrition Internship | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Food And Nutrition | Dietetics |
| Most common college | University of Maryland - College Park | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between nutrition interns' and nutrition specialists' demographics:
| Nutrition Internship | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.0% Female, 82.0% | Male, 26.5% Female, 73.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 10.1% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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 | 8% | 8% |