Alternative Jobs for a Nutritionist
Nutritionists are people who advise others on matters of food and nutrition and how that impacts their health. Nutritionists have many job opportunities in public health, sports nutrition, education, corporate wellness, animal nutrition, and more.
We’ve compiled a list of Alternative Jobs for Nutritionists, including how to find them and how much they pay.
Make sure you have a competitive Nutritionist Salary to maintain industry standards and keep the value of the nutritionist.
How to Become a Nutritionist
Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition: There are many options to take when considering the career path of a Nutritionist. Many corporations, hospitals, wellness clinics, and educational institutions require a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition or Dietetics from an accredited college or university. The Bachelor’s degree usually takes 4 years to complete and cost of schooling will vary depending on the college or university chosen.
Nutrition Certificates: If considering going into private practice, where you are your own boss, or working at a gym or fitness center, there may not be as strict of guidelines regarding the Nutritionist title and the degrees received to obtain it. There are a lot of online and in-person programs that range from 4 hours to 24 weeks and provide Nutrition certificates. Not all places of employment recognize these certificates, so if intending to apply to a specific organization, it is always best to check first regarding job requirements.
Certified Nutritionist Specialist: In addition, there are other specialty nutrition programs that provide graduates with a Certified Nutritionist Specialist (CNS) title. People who complete the required courses, obtain a specific number of supervised hours, and pass an exam are eligible to be certified with the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists. Not all states allow CNS practitioners to practice. Some states require licensure as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). But some states recognize the CNS as a valid credential and this is an alternative route to the RDN licensure. In some states, CNS credentials can also accept insurance and work in hospital settings. Check out our article on the difference between a Nutritionist versus a Dietitian for more information.
Which educational path should you choose? Depending on your job area of interest and location (since licensure is state-specific), you’ll want to follow the state-specific guidelines and get either the bachelor’s degree in nutrition or the CNS certification.
Alternative Jobs for a Nutritionist
Here is a list of alternative jobs which require a bachelor’s degree or some type of training/education/certification in the field of Nutrition.
- Restaurant owner or manager
- Cook/Chef (at a restaurant, retirement community, school, etc.)
- Caterer
- Food service manager or worker (at a corporation, educational institution, or hospital)
- Restaurant consultant for food labeling, recipe and menu analysis, or menu developer
- Recipe developer
- Long-term care diet aide
- Community nutrition educator with a major university or community college
- Cooking demonstrator or Culinary educator
- Non-profit organization nutritionist such as WIC
- Nutrition educator for non-profit organizations
- Team leader for an organization such as Feed My Starving Children
- Weight loss camp coordinator or supervisor
- Skilled nursing facility as an assistant
- Health promotion speaker
- Chair member within a local or national organization
- Dietary supervisor
- Consumer communications representative with a food company
- Program director for a government education program
- Food scientist
- Food service administrator
- Food service manager
- Health food store manager
- Health inspector
- Quality control supervisor for a food processing plant
- Sales representative for medical, aesthetic, or pharmaceutical company
- Researcher for food products, studies, and other educational organizations
- Grant writer
- Marketing specialist for food companies, nutrition publications, or organizations
- Public relations for food companies, nutrition publications, or organizations
- Website developer for nutrition professionals
- Brand ambassador for food-related companies
- Trade show representative
- Nutrition writer for health newsletters, magazines, blogs, online forums, or other media
- Author of eBooks, cookbooks, and other nutrition-related books
- Food editor for books and magazines
- Ghost writer
- Social media writer for companies
- Social media influencer
- Video developer
- Food stylist for print and commercials
- Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered (with a certificate) for hospital, clinical setting, or other health care setting
Alternative Jobs for a Nutritionist as a Nutrition Coach, in-person and virtual:
- private practice
- corporate wellness
- gym or fitness center
- health club
- weight management clinic
- functional medicine clinic
- community wellness center
How to Find a Nutritionist Job
5 Steps to take to find a job as a Nutritionist.
- Determine Your Area of Interest. Look at the above job options for Nutritionists. Consider what area attracts you the most. Where do you want to work? What type of job are you looking for? What job title gets you most excited? Use this as a starting point to determine where you will start to venture out in the job hunt.
- Connect with Others in the Industry. Start to network with others who work in the chosen area of interest. Use LinkedIn and other social media platforms to make connections with people. The more people you know, the more likelihood someone will be able to help you find a job or provide a referral.
- Find a Mentor or Get Experience. The best way to know if you like a career is to get experience or have a mentor to show you the ins-and-outs. During your networking phase, find places to volunteer at or connect with other professionals in order to shadow them. Consider joining a Master Mind group consisting of other people in the industry who can share their guidance and provide support.
- Update Your LinkedIn Profile and Resume. Most employers use LinkedIn as another form of the standard resume. Having both a stellar resume and an up-to-date LinkedIn profile will help you stand out from the crowd. For examples of how to write a winning resume, check out our Resume Template Bundle. Access our Workbook to Build a Stand-Out LinkedIn Profile.
- Any Specific Places You Want to Work? If there are specific places you want to work, reach out to people who currently work there. Connect with them. Inquire if they are hiring. Start to build relationships with the people within the company. An internal referral is always ideal for getting a job and you can get an insider tip on the latest job opportunities available.
Don’t like networking? We’ve got 7 tips for people who don’t like networking and how to do it.
Nutritionist Salary
Nutritionist Salaries range in pay based on location and type of practice.
Depending on the city you live in, different facilities will have different hourly and salary pay rates. In addition, based on the cost of living in the area, nutritionist salary rates will vary, too. To determine what to charge within a private practice setting, contact other local private practice nutritionists to find out the standard going rate.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in May of 2020, Nutritionists and Dietitians average about $64,150 per year which is about $30.84 per hour. This is roughly the mean hourly range.
People earning in the 90th percentile earn about $43.27 per hour which results in about $90,000 annually.
The challenge with these statistics is that the BLS doesn’t differentiate between a dietitian and a nutritionist, so it is a challenge to know which pay rate is specific to which degree and licensure.
The states* with the highest annual wage for a Nutritionist are:
- California (averaging $81,070 salary per year)
- Alaska (averaging $78,350 salary per year)
- District of Columbia (averaging $73,150 salary per year)
- Hawaii (averaging $72,810 salary per year)
- New Jersey (averaging $72,750 salary per year)
*It is important to also note cost of living within these states to determine if the average annual salary supports the standard cost of living.
Salary.com lists the median nutritionist salary as $64,500 per year as of August 27, 2021. The range typically falls between $58,700 - $70,800.
It is also important to note the salary averages listed are based on job postings. Nutritionists working in the private practice setting will make more based on how much they charge per consultation or consulting project.
There are many lucrative Alternative Jobs for Nutritionists. Having different gigs can expand one’s variety and reach as a nutritionist. Doing multiple jobs within the field of nutrition, such as consulting, counseling, writing, and spokesperson work, will enhance your income and broaden your scope of practice. The opportunities are open and abundant.
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About the Author
Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist specializing in Weight Management and Sports Nutrition for youth and adults. She writes articles for multiple publications, provides customized nutrition coaching, and is a brand spokesperson. She is founder of MIJA, a superfood supplement company. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.
