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Registered dietitian vs consultant dietitian

The differences between registered dietitians 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 registered dietitian and a consultant dietitian. Additionally, a consultant dietitian has an average salary of $59,637, which is higher than the $58,227 average annual salary of a registered dietitian.

The top three skills for a registered dietitian include patients, patient care and home health. The most important skills for a consultant dietitian are patients, nutrition assessments, and weight loss.

Registered dietitian vs consultant dietitian overview

Registered DietitianConsultant Dietitian
Yearly salary$58,227$59,637
Hourly rate$27.99$28.67
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs6,14410,584
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a registered dietitian do?

A Registered Dietitian assesses the health of individual patients with medical conditions such as diabetes or renal failure. They work in hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, or other care facilities.

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.

Registered dietitian vs consultant dietitian salary

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

Registered DietitianConsultant Dietitian
Average salary$58,227$59,637
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $78,000Between $42,000 And $82,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CA-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyCVS Health-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between registered dietitian and consultant dietitian education

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

Registered DietitianConsultant Dietitian
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorDieteticsDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Registered dietitian vs consultant dietitian demographics

Here are the differences between registered dietitians' and consultants dietitian' demographics:

Registered DietitianConsultant Dietitian
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 7.9% Female, 92.1%Male, 7.1% Female, 92.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 9.3% White, 66.9% 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 registered dietitian and consultant dietitian duties and responsibilities

Registered dietitian example responsibilities.

  • Help patients maintain nutritional adequacy while managing food allergies.
  • Manage the anemia status of patients by reviewing necessary lab data and initiating or adjusting medication doses.
  • Manage the in-store dietitian program providing nutrition education, culinary workshops, food demonstrations, and nutritional assessments.
  • Develop and conduct weight loss programs; provide nutritional counseling for cardiac rehabilitation patients.
  • Diet education to nonsurgical patients on eating disorders, diabetes and other nutrition relate conditions.
  • Cover all topics ranging from weight management to oncology.
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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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Registered dietitian vs consultant dietitian skills

Common registered dietitian skills
  • Patients, 33%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 6%
  • Culinary, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
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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