Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between nutritionists and nutrition specialists 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 nutrition specialist. Additionally, a nutrition specialist has an average salary of $53,989, 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 nutrition specialist are patients, PET, and nutritional care.
| Nutritionist | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $49,877 | $53,989 |
| Hourly rate | $23.98 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 698 | 20,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 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.
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.
Nutritionists and nutrition specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nutritionist | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Average salary | $49,877 | $53,989 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $80,000 | Between $34,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Cargill | Children's Hospital Colorado |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a nutritionist and a nutrition specialist in terms of educational background:
| Nutritionist | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Dietetics | Dietetics |
| Most common college | University of Maryland - College Park | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between nutritionists' and nutrition specialists' demographics:
| Nutritionist | Nutrition Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.8% Female, 84.2% | Male, 26.5% Female, 73.5% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |