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Registered dietitian vs nutritional consultant

The differences between registered dietitians and nutritional consultants 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 nutritional consultant. Additionally, a nutritional consultant has an average salary of $62,346, 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 nutritional consultant are diabetes, weight loss, and nutrition assessments.

Registered dietitian vs nutritional consultant overview

Registered DietitianNutritional Consultant
Yearly salary$58,227$62,346
Hourly rate$27.99$29.97
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs6,14415,581
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
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 nutritional consultant do?

A Nutritional Consultant provides assistance regarding food service and nutritional programs. They help patients improve their health and control of disease.

Registered dietitian vs nutritional consultant salary

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

Registered DietitianNutritional Consultant
Average salary$58,227$62,346
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $78,000Between $30,000 And $125,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CASan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyCVS HealthWayne County, Michigan
Best paying industryHealth CareAgriculture

Differences between registered dietitian and nutritional consultant education

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

Registered DietitianNutritional Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorDieteticsFood And Nutrition
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Registered dietitian vs nutritional consultant demographics

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

Registered DietitianNutritional Consultant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 7.9% Female, 92.1%Male, 22.6% Female, 77.4%
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, 9.1% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between registered dietitian and nutritional consultant 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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Nutritional consultant example responsibilities.

  • Manage the in-store dietitian program providing nutrition education, culinary workshops, food demonstrations, and nutritional assessments.
  • Specialize in weight loss, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and lactose intolerance
  • Provide nutrition assessments, counseling and diabetes education to visually impair population individually and in group setting.
  • Ensure compliance to USDA requirements.
  • Conduct BMI and weigh-ins for insurance members during health insurance out reach events.
  • Help clients with food allergies and auto immune disorders to construct a healing diet.
  • Show more

Registered dietitian vs nutritional consultant skills

Common registered dietitian skills
  • Patients, 33%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 6%
  • Culinary, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
Common nutritional consultant skills
  • Diabetes, 9%
  • Weight Loss, 7%
  • Nutrition Assessments, 6%
  • Food Service, 6%
  • Menu Planning, 5%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 4%

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