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Nutrition Degree and Career Overview
Average Salary & Job Outlook
Dietitians and Nutritionists Median wages (2006)
$46,980 annual
U.S. Minimum Wage
$10,712 Annually

*Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

The average yearly salary of nutritionistsin the United States was $46,980 in May 2006. The top ten percent of employed nutritionists earned more than $68,330. Job prospects are expected to increase for nutritionists. Those who have specialized training or an advanced degree will have the best job opportunities. Employment growth is predicted due to the growing importance of disease prevention through proper dietary habits. Job prospects will also increase due to the number of retired workers or experienced nutritionists moving into other fields.


Nutrition is a red-hot field right now! With the growing popularity of cooking shows like Top Chef and Hell’s Kitchen, the public is becoming increasingly interested in food. People all across the world are eager to learn how their eating habits can impact their health. Nutritionists are trained to answer these types of food questions, and many more!

Think about this staggering fact: a whopping 66 percent of Americans are overweight. If you’re overweight, you are at a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, and other life-threatening conditions. It is the responsibility of nutritionists and dieticians to help make sure that their patients have the information they need to make health food choices. After all, healthy food means healthy bodies!

Nutritionists focus on the chemistry and biology of what we’re eating and the way in which specific ingredients can affect our health. However, there is a lot more to the field of nutrition than just science! Food studies students are often heavily involved with nutrition education and awareness—teaching their patients and the community how to follow a healthy diet. If a patient is able to understand what a particular food is doing to his/her body, they will more likely to follow the advice of their nutritionist!

You will frequently find nutritionists and dieticians helping to plan healthy meals for individuals or large groups. For instance, many nutritionists offer counsel on school lunches, hospital meals, and food stamp programs. Nutritionists also have the opportunity to offer nutritional advice to a large institution, such as a hospital, nursing home, school, or other health care facility. They need know how to plan healthy meals for a large group of people, often under a strict budget.

Since the world of food is so broad, nutritionists also have the option of selecting a specialization in their field. Many opt to concentrate on treating children with diabetes, individuals with eating disorders, or people who are overweight.

One of the best aspects of nutrition is involves a lot more than just telling people what to eat! People who have nutrition degrees have the option to work in the advertising, sales, marketing, and the non-profit industries. For instance, nutritionists might help to work on a campaign to promote a snack food that is slow in sodium or fat. No matter where you go, you won’t be able to avoid food—which is great news for those of you out there who are eager to get involved in this in-demand field!

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