Description
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.
Interests
- Social
- Investigative
Work Values
- Relationships
- Independence
- Achievement
Work Styles
- Integrity
- Concern for Others
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cooperation
Tasks
- 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.
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Getting Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
Detailed Work Activities
- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Technology Skills
- Spreadsheet software
- Desktop communications software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Medical software
- Data base user interface and query software
Abilities
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
Skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Social Perceptiveness
Knowledge
- Biology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Therapy and Counseling
- Customer and Personal Service
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Certified Specialist in Renal NutritionCertifying Organization
Commission on Dietetic Registration
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Certified Nutrition SpecialistCertifying Organization
Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Nutrition Support ClinicianCertifying Organization
The National Board of Nutrition Support Certification
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Advanced Weight Management InstructorCertifying Organization
International Fitness Professional Association
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
School Nutrition SpecialistCertifying Organization
School Nutrition Association
Type
Core
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $35,375 |
| Median (50%) | $61,828 |
| High (90%) | $87,035 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $67,910 |
| Mid Level | $77,975 |
| Senior Level | $89,009 |
| Expert Level | $61,750 |
Employability
There are currently 81,300 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 87,300 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 7%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 7%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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