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The differences between nutrition specialists and public health dietitians 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 specialist and a public health dietitian. Additionally, a public health dietitian has an average salary of $60,855, which is higher than the $53,989 average annual salary of a nutrition specialist.
The top three skills for a nutrition specialist include patients, PET and nutritional care. The most important skills for a public health dietitian are public health, patients, and wic program.
| Nutrition Specialist | Public Health Dietitian | |
| Yearly salary | $53,989 | $60,855 |
| Hourly rate | $25.96 | $29.26 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 20,074 | 66,512 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
Public health dieticians can expect an annual pay of around $65K but require a four-year bachelor's degree and studies in nutrition, physiology, biology, and other related science courses for this career, as well as a skill set that includes organizational, analytical, speaking and people skills. They help coordinate with food suppliers and faculty administrators for the provision of menus that will meet individually-based dietary needs.
Nutrition specialists and public health dietitians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nutrition Specialist | Public Health Dietitian | |
| Average salary | $53,989 | $60,855 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $84,000 | Between $31,000 And $116,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital Colorado | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a nutrition specialist and a public health dietitian in terms of educational background:
| Nutrition Specialist | Public Health Dietitian | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Dietetics | Dietetics |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between nutrition specialists' and public health dietitians' demographics:
| Nutrition Specialist | Public Health Dietitian | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.5% Female, 73.5% | Male, 5.1% Female, 94.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 9.2% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |