Nutrition

[ Main Nutrition Undergraduate Page ]

Career Opportunities for Nutrition Graduates

Clinical Dietetics

  • Hospitals
  • Long Term Care
  • Clinics
  • Specialties: Renal, Pediatric
  • Median Salary: $38,000

Community Nutrition

  • Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
  • Public Health Department
  • Cooperative Extension
  • Congregate Meals Program
    (Jobs available without RD)
  • Median Salary: $38,000

Consultant/Private Practice

  • Hospitals
  • Long Term Care
  • Client counseling for weight management, eating disorders,sports nutrition, diabetes management
  • Sales rep for food, nutritional or pharmaceutical companies
  • Write cookbooks or articles
  • Food photography
  • Restaurant and/or food industry
  • Health clubs/spas
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Median Salary: $49,000

Corporate Careers

  • Sales
  • Marketing
  • Public Relations
  • Research & Development
  • Production-quality control

International

  • Peace Corps
  • Non-governmental organizations
  • United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization
  • US AID (Agency for International Development)
  • Multi-national Corporation
  • Consulting/Research Collaboration

Food & Nutrition Management

  • Hospitals
  • Long Term Care
  • Businesses
  • Schools
  • Contract Service Management
  • Work with chefs or at spas
    (Jobs available without RD)
  • Median salary: $48,000

Education & Research

  • College/University
  • Health Professional School
  • Government (FDA, USDA, NIH)
  • Industry
  • Manage/assist with clinical trials
  • Basic research
    (RD not as important as MS or PhD)
  • Median Salary: $47,000 w/experience

Education

  • Teach in 2 yr college/culinary school
  • Write curriculum for state board of education, Dairy Council, Cooperative extension
  • Worksite Wellness
  • Business/Industry (Kraft Foods, General Mills, Proctor & Gamble)
  • Information Technology (CBORD)
  • Nutritionals (Novartis, Ross Products)
  • Nutraceuticals (GeniSoy Products)
  • Pharmaceutical (Eli Lily, Pfizer)
  • Food Service Equipment
  • Food Service Contract Management
    (varies) (ARA, Sodexho)
  • Food Service Vendors (Sysco, US Food Service)
  • Medical Equipment
  • Trade Associations (Dairy Council)

Media

  • Radio/TV/Newspaper/Magazines
  • ADA Spokespersons
  • Cooperative Extension Agents
  • Trade Associations

Public Policy/Government

  • Staff resource to legislator
  • Government Agency (USDA, FDA, NIH)
  • Health Care Reform
  • Supplement Labels
  • Regulatory
  • Lobbyist for state/federal government

Start with Nutrition degree, then use skills for a degree in a related profession:

  • Business (MBA)
  • Chiropractor (DC)
  • Dentist (DDS)
  • Law (JD)
  • Naturopathic Doctor (ND)
  • Physical Therapist (PT)
  • Physician (MD or DO)
  • Physician Assistant (PA)
  • Podiatrist (DP)
  • Veterinarian (DVM)