How to become a Nutritionist: The average pay for a nutritionist is $53,230 per year. This is as shown by the results from the Bureau Labor Statistics. This is just an average pay and there are nutritionists who receive as low as $33,230 in a year. Most of the nutritionists earn an average amount of $74,690 per year. The first figure given as the average amount earned by nutritionists includes all the low-income and the high-income earners.
The salary of nutritionists differs based on one’s qualifications, region and the industry. For you to be a nutritionist, you need to have a degree in nutrition. It does not end there, and more on your salary requires more effort. According to BLS, certification improves one’s salary. After your education, you have to take a course on dietetics, finish an internship and pass your exams. You are required to have more than 75 continuing education credits every five years. General nutritionists earn averagely low compared to those who improve their certificates through further education, and gaining of more credits. More information about this can be obtained from PayScale.com.
Nutritionists can be employed in several areas, but different industries have different pay grades. Hospitals for example, are said to pay the highest followed by the Federal Executive branch. A nutritionist can be self-employed. You can be a consultant to several people and organizations in need of advice and guidance on nutrition issues, or a personal diet coach, or even offer classes to people, restaurants and health clubs on nutrition. Most nutritionists however, are employed by health practitioners, in outpatient and nursing centers and in hospitals. Would you like to work in any of the mentioned places?
Different regions also pay nutritionists differently. Maryland for example, is considered the highest paying region with an average pay of $64,600 per year. Other regions with high pay grades are; Hawaii, Nevada and California. These regions pay an average of $62,000 and above per year. There is another important issue that should be considered when you want to become a nutritionist. The District of Columbia has the maximum concentration of workers but employs less than 500 according to results from BLS, while New York and Pennsylvania employ more than 2500 dietitians and nutritionists.
Being a nutritionist has its advantages and disadvantages and so one has to make the choice after evaluating what the profession has to offer.