Occupations for Registered Dietitians
ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), registered dietitian nutritionists work in a wide variety of employment settings, including health care, business and industry, community/public health, education, research, government agencies and private practice.

Many work environments, particularly those in medical and health-care settings, require that an individual be credentialed as an RDN.  RDNs work in Hospitals, HMO's or other health-care facilities, sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs, food and nutrition-related business and industries, private practice, community and public health settings, universities and medical centers, and research areas.
 

According to the Academy's 2009 Dietetics Compensation and Benefits Survey, half of all RDNs in the US who have been working full-time in the field for five years or less earn between $51,000 and $62,200 per year. As with any profession, salaries and fees vary by region of the country, employment settings, scope of responsibility and supply of RDNs. Salaries increase with years of experience and many RDNs, particularly those in management and business, earn incomes of $85,000-$88,000.

To learn more about the qualifications of a registered dietitian, what services RD’s provide, and how an RD is different than a nutritionist, visit AND’s website at:
http://www.eatright.org/About/Content.aspx?id=7531
 

O*NET RESOURCE CENTER:
O*Net Resource Center is the nation’s primary source of occupational information. The O*Net database contains information on hundreds of standardized and occupation-specific descriptors. The database is open to the public at no cost. For more information about O-Net, go to: http://www.onetcenter.org/overview.html
 

Occupations by name and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code that the dietetic internship prepare students for include:
 

Dietitians and Nutritionists – 29-1031.00 http://www.onetcodeconnector.org/ccreport/29-1031.00
 

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.
 

Health Educators - 21-1091.00 http://www.onetcodeconnector.org/ccreport/21-1091.00
 

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May serve as a resource to assist individuals, other healthcare workers, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.
 

Food Service Managers – 11-9051.00 http://www.onetcodeconnector.org/ccreport/11-9051.00
 

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.