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Nutritionist vs public health dietitian

The differences between nutritionists 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 nutritionist and a public health dietitian. Additionally, a public health dietitian has an average salary of $60,855, 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 public health dietitian are public health, patients, and wic program.

Nutritionist vs public health dietitian overview

NutritionistPublic Health Dietitian
Yearly salary$49,877$60,855
Hourly rate$23.98$29.26
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs69866,512
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
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 public health dietitian do?

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.

Nutritionist vs public health dietitian salary

Nutritionists and public health dietitians have different pay scales, as shown below.

NutritionistPublic Health Dietitian
Average salary$49,877$60,855
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $80,000Between $31,000 And $116,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CASan Mateo, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyCargillAmazon
Best paying industryFinanceHealth Care

Differences between nutritionist and public health dietitian education

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

NutritionistPublic Health Dietitian
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorDieteticsDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Nutritionist vs public health dietitian demographics

Here are the differences between nutritionists' and public health dietitians' demographics:

NutritionistPublic Health Dietitian
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 15.8% Female, 84.2%Male, 5.1% Female, 94.9%
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, 9.6% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 9.2% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between nutritionist and public health 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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Public health dietitian example responsibilities.

  • Manage the anemia status of patients by reviewing necessary lab data and initiating or adjusting medication doses.
  • Partner with certify diabetes educator on consulting gestational diabetic patients on glucose monitors and diabetic eating guidelines.
  • Provide diabetes education to community groups.
  • Implement and develop diabetes information newsletters.
  • Provide medical nutrition therapy for medically high risk patients.
  • Write quarterly project newsletters, create tools need to properly assess for obesity causing behaviors and develop educationmaterials as needed.
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Nutritionist vs public health dietitian skills

Common nutritionist skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Public Health, 8%
  • WIC Program, 7%
  • RD, 6%
  • Food Service, 6%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 4%
Common public health dietitian skills
  • Public Health, 28%
  • Patients, 15%
  • WIC Program, 7%
  • Nutrition Services, 5%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 5%
  • Community Nutrition, 4%

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