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Healthcare

Dietitians and Nutritionists

Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.

Median salary (BLS)

$76,400

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$49k – $104k

Job outlook

+6% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $93,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Dietitians and Nutritionists

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Education

Typical entry: Master's degree

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$64,200–$231,000

Time to qualify

6.2 yr

Renewal

$75/yr

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    Degree

    Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

    $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

  2. 2

    Master's degree

    Degree

    Typically two years; average graduate tuition ≈ $20,000/yr at public universities (NCES).

    $24,000–$80,000 · 2 years source

  3. 3

    National & state licensure

    License

    A national board/registry exam plus a state license application (the NCLEX pattern). Exact exam and fees depend on the role and state.

    $200–$1,000 · 2 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Dietitians and Nutritionists" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Dietitians and Nutritionists

    Entry / Junior

    $49,090

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Dietitians and Nutritionists

    Established

    $76,400

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Dietitians and Nutritionists

    Senior

    $90,060

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions, and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling.
  • •Evaluate laboratory tests in preparing nutrition recommendations.
  • •Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.
  • •Advise patients and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans, diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.
  • •Incorporate patient cultural, ethnic, or religious preferences and needs in the development of nutrition plans.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.