Nutritionist Career Profile

If you think of yourself as a true health nut, you have probably though about becoming a nutritionist at some point in time. That would allow you to put your health obsession to good use and actually make a living from it. Before you get involved too heavily though, you may want to know a little more about the work environment for nutritionists in the modern world. In this article, we will review the career of a nutritionist so you can determine if this is something you want to do in the future. Read on to make a career plan you can stick to.

Specialties for Nutritionists

Nutritionists do a lot more than most people realize, and as a result of that, they have specialties they can work in. If you want to pursue this career, you may want to look into a specialty so that you can do exactly what you want to do day in and day out. Concentrations include:

• Counseling
• Customer Service Metrics
• Dietetics
• Nutrition Support
• Public Health Education
• Sales
• Sports Nutrition

Think about what you really want out of your career, and you should be able to figure out the perfect area of focus for you.

Industries for Nutritionists

There are several areas of the medical field that nutritionists can work in. Every area has its own needs, so you may want to explore them more closely to figure out where you want to be. Here is a list of industries you may find yourself in as a nutritionist:

• Health Clinic Work
• Healthcare
• Hospitalization
• Nutritional Supplements

Employers for Nutritionists

You could work for a nutritional supplement manufacturer as a nutritionist, but there are plenty of other employers to work under. Before you settle into one place for a long time, you may want to figure out which employer actually suits your plans for the future. Here are some examples you may keep in mind:

• Colleges
• Companies
• Government Offices
• Hospitals
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Private Practice
• School Districts

Degree Programs for Nutritionists

If you decide that you want to learn how to become a dietician, you will probably want to get a college degree related to the field. This will give you the knowledge you need to advise people successfully. Here are some degree programs you may want to choose from:

• Bachelor of Science in Biology
• Bachelor of Science in Dietetics
• Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition
• Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
• Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science
• Master of Science in Nutrition

Certifications for Nutritionists

In order to verify that you know what you are talking about as a nutritionist, you need to get certified. This is a requirement in some states and with some employers, so you might as well plan to get certified down the road. Some of the certifications you may pursue include:

• Certified Dietitian Nutritionist
• Certified Nutritionist
• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
• Registered Dietitian

Salary Ranges for Nutritionists

Once you go through all the training to become a nutritionist, you get to the fun part – making money. As a whole, dieticians have a pretty good chance to make money in today's society, especially with the obesity rates skyrocketing in America. With high demand comes high pay, which you can see in the charts below. Here is a look at how your nutritionist salary may change in different scenarios:

Salary by Years of Experience

• Less than 1 year of experience: $10,417 - $61,444 per year
• 1-4 years of experience: $28,996 - $48,645 per year
• 5-9 years of experience: $28,603 - $56,529 per year
• 10-19 years of experience: $26,470 - $61,825 per year
• 20 years or more of experience: $34,000 - $60,102 per year

Salary by Location

• California: $20,273 - $124,277 per year
• Georgia: $30,265 - $41,000 per year
• New York: $29,194 - $57,618 per year
• North Carolina: $31,628 - $42,729 per year
• Pennsylvania: $30,252 - $44,764 per year
• Texas: $16,371 - $45,615 per year

Assess your career options thoroughly and figure out if being a nutritionist is right for you. If it is, all you have left to of is getting an education. Good luck!