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Nutrition internship vs nutritionist

The differences between nutrition interns and nutritionists 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 nutritionist. Additionally, a nutritionist has an average salary of $49,877, 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 nutritionist are patients, public health, and wic program.

Nutrition internship vs nutritionist overview

Nutrition InternshipNutritionist
Yearly salary$36,506$49,877
Hourly rate$17.55$23.98
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs48,204698
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a nutrition internship do?

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.

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.

Nutrition internship vs nutritionist salary

Nutrition interns and nutritionists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nutrition InternshipNutritionist
Average salary$36,506$49,877
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $53,000Between $30,000 And $80,000
Highest paying City-Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Cargill
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between nutrition internship and nutritionist education

There are a few differences between a nutrition internship and a nutritionist in terms of educational background:

Nutrition InternshipNutritionist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorFood And NutritionDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Nutrition internship vs nutritionist demographics

Here are the differences between nutrition interns' and nutritionists' demographics:

Nutrition InternshipNutritionist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 18.0% Female, 82.0%Male, 15.8% Female, 84.2%
Race ratioBlack 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, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 9.9% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between nutrition internship and nutritionist duties and responsibilities

Nutrition internship example responsibilities.

  • Research foods available in VT grocery stores that meet the WIC criteria for eligible food products in VT.
  • Complete nutrition assessments and design interventions for hospital patients and long term care facility residents.
  • Enter recipes and analyze nutrient levels of school lunches via USDA approve software program, NutriKids.
  • Create agendas, identify potential speakers and topics, connect communities and individuals to USDA resources and programs.
  • Research on various topics such as corporate wellness, exercise, food allergies, and other health relate concerns.
  • Create diabetes educational handouts for an outpatient clinic.
  • Show more

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

Nutrition internship vs nutritionist skills

Common nutrition internship skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Nutrition Education Programs, 9%
  • Nutrition Education Materials, 5%
  • RD, 5%
  • Diabetes, 4%
  • Food Safety, 4%
Common nutritionist skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Public Health, 8%
  • WIC Program, 7%
  • RD, 6%
  • Food Service, 6%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 4%

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