Nutrition is a key element of health and wellness. Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are the experts on good nutrition and the food choices that can improve health or manage the symptoms of a disease or chronic condition. RDNs design nutrition programs to protect and promote health, prevent allergic reactions, and alleviate the symptoms of many types of disease.
Clinical dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy for patients in institutions such as hospitals and nursing care facilities. They assess patients’ nutritional needs, develop and implement nutrition programs and evaluate and report the results. They confer with doctors and other health care professionals to coordinate medical and dietary needs. Some clinical dietitians specialize in weight management and critically ill patients, such as those on tube feedings.
Community dietitians develop nutrition programs designed to prevent disease and promote health, targeting particular groups of people. RDNs in this practice area may work in settings such as public health clinics, social service agencies and fitness centers.
Corporate dietitians work in areas such as food manufacturing, advertising, marketing and corporate wellness programs. These positions have a variety of responsibilities; dietitians may analyze foods for quality assurance, prepare literature for distribution, or report on issues such as the nutritional content of recipes, dietary fiber or vitamin supplements.
Food Service Management dietitians oversee large-scale meal planning and preparation in health care facilities, company cafeterias, prisons and schools. They hire, train and direct other dietitians and food service workers; budget for and purchase food, equipment, and supplies; enforce sanitary and safety regulations; and prepare records and reports.
Consultant dietitians work under contract with health care facilities or in their own private practice. They perform nutrition assessments for their clients and advise them about diet-related concerns, such as weight loss or heart health. Some work for wellness programs, sports teams, supermarkets and other nutrition-related businesses. They consult with food service managers, providing expertise in sanitation, safety procedures, menu development, budgeting and planning.
Working Conditions
Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) work in a variety of settings, overseeing food planning and preparation. While some may spend time in a commercial or facility kitchen, most work in an office setting, managing nutrition programs, seeing clients and/or working on policy issues related to nutrition. While many RDNs work a typical 40-hour week there are opportunities for non-traditional positions within the profession.
Salary Range and Outlook
The median salary for a registered dietitian nutritionist, as of 2024, is $79,000, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ 2024 Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession. Salaries may be higher or lower depending on a registered dietitian nutritionist’s experience, the job location and the position’s responsibilities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment will grow 7% from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. It notes that the role of food in good health is well known, leading to a larger role for dietitians in patient care and to advise people who want to improve their health.
Academic Requirements
There are two pathways to becoming a dietitian nutritionist:
- Enroll in an ACEND®-accredited Graduate Coordinated or International Coordinated Program. These programs combine classroom and supervised practical experience, provide a minimum of a graduate degree and are accredited by ACEND. Graduates are then eligible to write CDR’s Registration Examination for Dietitians to become credentialed as registered dietitian nutritionists.
OR
- Enroll in an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics academic program. This program, which is accredited by ACEND, grants at least a bachelor’s degree. After you receive your degree, you will then need to apply for and complete supervised practice experience in an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship Program and obtain a minimum of a graduate degree. You will then be eligible to write CDR’s Registration Examination for Dietitians to become credentialed as a registered dietitian nutritionist.