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Nutrition services manager vs dietary manager

The differences between nutrition services managers and dietary managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a nutrition services manager and a dietary manager. Additionally, a nutrition services manager has an average salary of $43,923, which is higher than the $42,856 average annual salary of a dietary manager.

The top three skills for a nutrition services manager include patients, customer service and nutrition services. The most important skills for a dietary manager are kitchen equipment, patients, and dietary services.

Nutrition services manager vs dietary manager overview

Nutrition Services ManagerDietary Manager
Yearly salary$43,923$42,856
Hourly rate$21.12$20.60
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs163,53695,306
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

What does a nutrition services manager do?

A nutrition services manager is responsible for overseeing food planning and preparation for healthcare organizations. Your duties will include ensuring that culinary staff adheres to quality nutrition, safety, and sanitation standards set by the government, developing the dietary and food preparation guidelines, and overseeing the operations, budget, menu plans, and purchasing of clinical food service. Other duties include participating in programs that will broaden your knowledge and improve your performance, training employees in maintaining and operating equipment safely, and maintaining an inventory of supplies, food, and necessary equipment in food preparation.

What does a dietary manager do?

A dietary manager oversees the food service operations of a company or institution's kitchen facilities, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. They are primarily in charge of developing dietary programs and meal plans, coordinating with nutritionists, setting daily objectives, establishing food preparation standards and protocols, managing budgets and employee schedules, and monitoring overall operations, solving issues and concerns if any arise. They also supervise the recruitment and training of staff, monitor inventories, purchase supplies, and interact with customers. Moreover, a dietary manager leads employees to reach goals and implements industry standards and company policies.

Nutrition services manager vs dietary manager salary

Nutrition services managers and dietary managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nutrition Services ManagerDietary Manager
Average salary$43,923$42,856
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $72,000Between $30,000 And $60,000
Highest paying CityMalden, MA-
Highest paying stateRhode Island-
Best paying companyHca Hospital Services Of San Diego-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between nutrition services manager and dietary manager education

There are a few differences between a nutrition services manager and a dietary manager in terms of educational background:

Nutrition Services ManagerDietary Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Most common majorDieteticsCulinary Arts
Most common collegeSUNY College at PlattsburghCornell University

Nutrition services manager vs dietary manager demographics

Here are the differences between nutrition services managers' and dietary managers' demographics:

Nutrition Services ManagerDietary Manager
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 26.0% Female, 74.0%Male, 32.0% Female, 68.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 7.5% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between nutrition services manager and dietary manager duties and responsibilities

Nutrition services manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage food allergies and special diets by providing nutritious alternatives and creating student-specific menus.
  • Inventory, QA information and meetings.
  • Advise clients on FDA regulations and labeling compliance.
  • Design and teach culinary arts and nutrition curriculum for all ages.
  • Develop, conduct and oversee quality assurance (QA) audits.
  • Review patient menus to check for portion/dietary restrictions, allergies or special instructions.
  • Show more

Dietary manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage operations and provide support to a team of 245 union employees at various elementary, middle and high school cafeterias.
  • Review records and assess the nutritional condition of at risk residents, including unplan weight changes, charting and MDS reporting.
  • Analyze diet requirement of patients and prepare nutritional balance menus accordingly.
  • Refer patients to appropriate outpatient settings for additional diet education and support.
  • Communicate effectively in medical charts, and complete MDS assessments for Medicare reimbursement with proficiency.
  • Increase student participation by overseeing and implementing marketing brands in school cafeterias.

Nutrition services manager vs dietary manager skills

Common nutrition services manager skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Nutrition Services, 8%
  • Food Preparation, 6%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 5%
  • Meal Service, 5%
Common dietary manager skills
  • Kitchen Equipment, 11%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Dietary Services, 6%
  • Infection Control, 5%
  • Food Preparation, 5%
  • Federal Regulations, 5%

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