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Registered dietitian vs public health dietitian

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

Registered dietitian vs public health dietitian overview

Registered DietitianPublic Health Dietitian
Yearly salary$58,227$60,855
Hourly rate$27.99$29.26
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs6,14466,512
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
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 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.

Registered dietitian vs public health dietitian salary

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

Registered DietitianPublic Health Dietitian
Average salary$58,227$60,855
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $78,000Between $31,000 And $116,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CASan Mateo, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyCVS HealthAmazon
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between registered dietitian and public health dietitian education

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

Registered DietitianPublic Health Dietitian
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorDieteticsDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Registered dietitian vs public health dietitian demographics

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

Registered DietitianPublic Health Dietitian
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 7.9% Female, 92.1%Male, 5.1% Female, 94.9%
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, 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 registered dietitian and public health 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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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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Registered dietitian vs public health dietitian skills

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