Dietitian
Also known as: dietician, public health nutritionist, specialist dietician
About this occupation
Dietitians assess specific nutritional requirements of populations or individuals throughout their lives and translate this into advice which will maintain, reduce risk to, or restore people’s health. Using evidence-based approaches, dietitians work to empower individuals, families and groups to provide or select food which is nutritionally adequate, safe, tasty and sustainable. Beyond healthcare, dietitians improve the nutritional environment for all through governments, industry, academia and research.
Essential skills and knowledge
- apply organisational techniques
- accept own accountability
- follow up nutrition care plan
- food science
- pharmacology
- chemistry
- dietetics
- deal with emergency care situations
- human anatomy
- develop policies for nutritional programs
- ensure safety of healthcare users
- conduct nutrition research
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Dietitians and Nutritionists (O*NET 29-1031.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- 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.
- Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client.
- Typical education (US)
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Investigative, Enterprising
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making
US median pay: US$76,400 a year (2025), 77,570 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyVery important (4.4)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.1)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyVery important (3.9)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (3.6)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.4)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryImportant (3.4)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyImportant (3.3)
- Agriculture or Foods and NutritionO*NET: Food ProductionImportant (3.2)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Dietetic Technicians
- Nurse Practitioners
- Family Medicine Physicians
- Pediatricians, General
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Naturopathic Physicians
- Health Education Specialists
- Exercise Physiologists
- Genetic Counselors
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.