Nutrition Job
Outlook
Haley Lydstone
Keene State College Dietetic Intern
Activity
• State your name
• Why did you choose to study nutrition?
• What field of nutrition are you
interested in?
Summary of Presentation
 What is going on?
 Factors that influence the job market
 Career paths
 RD
 Non-RD
 Certifications and Specialties
 How can you make yourself marketable
to potential employers?
What is going on?
Factors that influence the nutrition job market
 Economy
 Health care reform
 Aging population
 Increasing chronic disease
 Increased public awareness of health
and nutrition
 Technology
Economy
Entry Level Wages of Male and Female College Graduates
1979-2010
Source: Economic Policy Institute
http://www.epi.org/publication/new_college_grads_losing_ground_on_wages/
Economy
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm
Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act
 Emphasis on prevention
 Develop National Prevention Strategy
 Create Prevention and Public Health
Fund
 Support delivery of evidence-based
prevention and wellness services
 Menu labeling – chain restaurants &
vending machines

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation - www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8061.pdf
Aging Population
Source: The state of aging and health in America 2007. www.cdc.gov/aging
Increase in Chronic Disease
Increase in Chronic Disease
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2010
No Data
<10%
10%–14%
15%–19%
20%–24%
Source: www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html
25%–29%
≥30%
Increased Public Awareness
Source: www.usda.gov
Technology
 35% of hiring managers use Google to do online
background checks on job candidates
 23% percent look people up on social networking sites.
 About one-third of those Web searches lead to
rejections, according to the survey.
Source: www.msnbc.com
Registered Dietitian
and
Dietetic Technician,
Registered
Registered Dietitian (RD)
 Bachelor’s degree in an ADA accredited program
 Completes Supervised Practice/Dietetic Internship
 Passes a national examination
 Completes continuing professional educational
requirements to maintain registration.
 About 50% of RDs hold advanced degrees. Some
have specialty certifications.
Source: www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6713
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - www.bls.gov/oco/
RD Salary & Job Outlook
Annual Salary Range*
All RDs
$48,006 - $69,992
Less than 5 years
experience
$39,998 - $52,000
Job outlook is average– expected to
grow 9% from 2008 to 2018
Source: www.bls.gov/oco/ and ADA Compensation and Benefits Survey, 2011
*Salary ranges presented are 25th to 75th percentile and are based on a 40 hour work week.
Dietetic Technician, Registered DTR
 New Eligibility Pathway III
Students with Bachelor’s degree from approved program
can sit for the DTR exam without logging 450 hours of
supervised practice.
 “DTRs work independently or as a team member under
the supervision of registered dietitians in a variety of
employment settings, including health care, business
and industry, community/public health, foodservice and
research.”
Annual Salary Range
All DTRs
$34,278 - $47,736
Less than 5 years experience
$29,723 - $38,958
Bachelor’s Degree
$33,862 - $50,003
Other Certifications
 Certified Health Education Specialist
(CHES)
 International Board Certified Lactation
Consultant (IBCLC), Certified Lactation
Counselor (CLC)
 Certified Personal Trainer (ACE, ACSM)
 CPR/First Aid
 Certified Dietary Manager
 Certified Food Protection Professional
Non-RD Career
Opportunities
Health Educator
 Educates individuals/communities about health-related
topics, such as nutrition. Puts programs together.
 Good communication and public speaking skills. Being
sensitive to cultural differences.
 Bachelor's degree, a master's degree may be required for
some positions.
 Salary: $44,000
 Job Outlook: Expected to grow by 18% through 2018
 CHES – Certified Health Education Specialist
Wellness/Health Coach
 Health and wellness seminars, develops health
education materials and customized care plans.
 Take interest in others feelings and perspectives, strive
to recognize and meet customer needs.
 Bachelor’s degree in nutrition or other health related
fields.
 Salary: $59,000
 Job Outlook: Expected to grow by 18% through 2018
Food Service Management
• Daily operations involved in food preparation/service,
ensures customer satisfaction, oversees inventory and
ordering, etc.
• Good communication and leadership skills. Being good
at problem solving.
• Experience is an integral part of finding a food service
management position, applicants with a degree are
more competitive.
• Salary: $46,230
• Job Outlook: Expected to grow 5% through 2018
Food Scientist
 Develop new or better ways to preserve,
process, store, and deliver foods, analyze
nutrient content in foods.
 Oral and written communication, being able to
communicate clearly and concisely.
 Bachelor’s degree, advancement requires a
master’s or doctoral degree.
 Salary: $59,520
 Job Outlook: Expected to grow by 16% through
2018
Sales Representative
 Sales reps describe their products, conduct
demonstrations, make customers interested purchasing
their product(s).
 Patience and perseverance, great communication skills,
desire to sell their product, goal oriented, persuasive.
 Scientific/technical product sales require a bachelor’s
degree.
 Salary: $70,200
 Job Outlook: Expected to grow by 7% through 2018
Writer (Medical/Technical)
 Develop documentation about medical
procedures, products, equipment
 Express ideas clearly and logically, creative,
self-motivated.
 Bachelor’s degree, science background.
 Salary: $61,620 (if salaried)-many writers have
other incomes
 Job Outlook: Expected to grow 18% through
2018
Research Assistant
 Designs and implements research studies,
performs independent research and conducts
fieldwork.
 Teamwork skills, ability to work with diverse
populations.
 Bachelor’s degree in nutrition or related field,
masters or doctoral degree is sometimes
required.
 Salary: $43,000
 Job Outlook: Expected to increase by 25%
through 2018
Community Nutritionist (ex: WIC)
 Provide nutrition education and counseling,
teach nutrition classes, develop nutrition
care plans.
 Sensitivity to working with ethnically and
culturally diverse individuals, good
communication skills.
 Bachelor’s degree.
 Salary: $32,000
 Job Outlook: Expected to increase 9%
through 2018
What do supervisors look for in WIC
Nutritionists?
 Drive to help improve nutrition and health among






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our low-income population
Good communicator, comfortable speaking to a
group
Computer skills
Organized & able to work under pressure/time
constraints
Enjoys fast-paced environments**
Culturally competent**
Good listener and avoids judgment**
Desire to help moms succeed at breastfeeding
Other Possibilities
 Certified Personal Trainer
 Caterer
 Food service technician
 Workplace Wellness
 Health & Human Services
(many government
positions)
 Author (books, cookbooks,
etc.)
 Food Safety & Quality
Compliance Specialist/Food
Safety Coordinator
Specialist/Wellness Director
 Recipe Tester
 Restaurant Consultant
 Health Speaker
 Marketing Specialist
 Research Chef
 Dietary assistant
How can I make myself marketable
to potential employers?
Experience is key



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Internships
Volunteer work
Teaching Assistant
Job shadowing (find out what you like and
what you don’t!)
• Contacts are vital
• Be open to change
What did you learn?
(1) Name two factors that influence today’s
job market for nutrition professionals.
(2) Identify at least one non-RD career
option.
(3) What is one way to make yourself more
marketable?
Call to Action
 Research jobs that interest you
 Be flexible
 Talk with your advisors and other
professionals already in the field
 Seek out internships and volunteer
opportunities to gain more experience
Thank You!
Questions/Comments
Non-RD Job References
 www.uwgb.edu/humbio/dieteticsemphasis/index.asp
http://fcs.illinoisstate.edu/food_nutrition_dietetic
s/careers.shtml
www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/qwic+nutritionist
www.bls.gov/oco