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Nutritionist vs consultant dietitian

The differences between nutritionists and consultants dietitian can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a nutritionist and a consultant dietitian. Additionally, a consultant dietitian has an average salary of $59,637, which is higher than the $49,877 average annual salary of a nutritionist.

The top three skills for a nutritionist include patients, public health and wic program. The most important skills for a consultant dietitian are patients, nutrition assessments, and weight loss.

Nutritionist vs consultant dietitian overview

NutritionistConsultant Dietitian
Yearly salary$49,877$59,637
Hourly rate$23.98$28.67
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs69810,584
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

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.

What does a consultant dietitian do?

Consultant Dietitians are experts in food and nutrition. They explain nutrition issues to the public, promote healthy nutrition through giving talks to groups about nutrition and diet, and asses clients health needs and diet.

Nutritionist vs consultant dietitian salary

Nutritionists and consultants dietitian have different pay scales, as shown below.

NutritionistConsultant Dietitian
Average salary$49,877$59,637
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $80,000Between $42,000 And $82,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CA-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyCargill-
Best paying industryFinance-

Differences between nutritionist and consultant dietitian education

There are a few differences between a nutritionist and a consultant dietitian in terms of educational background:

NutritionistConsultant Dietitian
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorDieteticsDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Nutritionist vs consultant dietitian demographics

Here are the differences between nutritionists' and consultants dietitian' demographics:

NutritionistConsultant Dietitian
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 15.8% Female, 84.2%Male, 7.1% Female, 92.9%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 10.1% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between nutritionist and consultant dietitian duties and responsibilities

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.
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Consultant dietitian example responsibilities.

  • Manage the anemia status of patients by reviewing necessary lab data and initiating or adjusting medication doses.
  • Provide individual outpatient diabetes, weight management and cardiovascular counseling.
  • Deliver medical nutrition therapy to patients, and offer culturally appropriate nutrition education to patients and their families.
  • Formulate menus and nutritional plans of care for regular and therapeutic diets base on medical/physical condition of patients.
  • Provide nutrition counseling for pediatric medical conditions including poor growth, feeding difficulties and food allergies.
  • Provide nutrition counseling & diabetes education to individuals in private practice setting.
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Nutritionist vs consultant dietitian skills

Common nutritionist skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Public Health, 8%
  • WIC Program, 7%
  • RD, 6%
  • Food Service, 6%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 4%
Common consultant dietitian skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Nutrition Assessments, 9%
  • Weight Loss, 6%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 6%
  • Long-Term Care Facilities, 5%
  • Nutrition Education, 5%

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