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The differences between nutritionists and doctors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a doctor has an average salary of $208,582, 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 doctor are patients, customer service, and emergency medicine.
| Nutritionist | Doctor | |
| Yearly salary | $49,877 | $208,582 |
| Hourly rate | $23.98 | $100.28 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 698 | 14,571 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
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.
A doctor is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries, often specializing in particular areas. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial interviews and examinations, studying a patient's medical history and laboratory results, providing consultations and care advice, prescribing medication, and referring patients to specialists when necessary. They must also coordinate and maintain an active communication line with nurses, administrators, and technicians for a smooth workflow. Moreover, a doctor must educate patients about their health conditions, helping them understand their situation better.
Nutritionists and doctors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nutritionist | Doctor | |
| Average salary | $49,877 | $208,582 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $80,000 | Between $106,000 And $408,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Green Bay, WI |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Ohio |
| Best paying company | Cargill | Saint Luke's Health System |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a nutritionist and a doctor in terms of educational background:
| Nutritionist | Doctor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Dietetics | Medicine |
| Most common college | University of Maryland - College Park | Duke University |
Here are the differences between nutritionists' and doctors' demographics:
| Nutritionist | Doctor | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.8% Female, 84.2% | Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 13% |