Nutritionist Salary Statistics and Career Overview (2023)

According to recent data, the average annual salary for nutritionists is $69,350. However, the actual salary a nutritionist earns is based on a variety of factors, including geographic location, level of experience, type of employer, and job responsibilities. The median salary for nutritionists is approximately $63,090, representing the middle point where 50% earn more and 50% earn less.

Salary Breakdown by Percentile

Here is a more detailed breakdown of average salaries by percentile based on BLS May 2022 data:

• Top 10%: The top 10% of nutritionists in terms of earnings can make an annual salary of over $88,880.
• Top 20%: The top 20% of nutritionists would likely earn above the median salary, possibly in the range of $80,500.
• Top 30%: The top 30% of nutritionists earn approximately $68,090.
• Median: $63,090.
• Bottom 30%: The bottom 30% of nutritionists earn an estimated $58,000.
• Bottom 20%: The bottom 20% of nutritionists earn approximately $46,840.
• Bottom 10%: The bottom 10% of nutritionists earn an annual salary of around $39,840 or lower.

Impact of Education and Experience

Educational Attainment

Generally speaking, the higher the educational attainment in nutrition science, the higher the salary you will earn. For instance, the average salary a nutritionist with a bachelors in nutrition science degree is $69,350, whereas someone with a master’s in nutrition science degree will earn $76,330 on average, an increase of 10%.

Work Experience

The median annual salary for dietitians and nutritionists varies significantly based on their years of experience:

• Less than 1 year of experience: $51,110
• 1-4 years of experience: $57,590
• 5-9 years of experience: $67,480
• 10-19 years of experience: $73,540
• 20 or more years of experience: $76,010

Work Settings and Employer Types

The average salary of a nutritionist can vary depending on whether they work in private practice, as an employee, for the government, or for a nonprofit organization. Here are the median annual wages for different work settings (BLS 2020):

• Federal Government: $71,720
• Private practice: $63,090
• Outpatient Care Center: $62,870
• State Government: $61,720
• Nonprofit nutritionist: $49,958

Additionally, the industry you work in plays a large role. The highest paying industries for nutritionists and dietitians include:

• Grant-Making and Giving Services – $73,100
• Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers – $70,920
• Federal Executive Branch – $70,370
• Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations – $70,060
• Home Health Care Services – $69,240

Career Choices and Employment Outlook

The average salary that someone with a nutrition science degree earns is obviously very dependent on which specific career track they follow. Here are the median annual wages for specific careers ranked from highest to lowest:

1. Food Scientist and Technologist: $72,470
2. Public Health Nutritionist: $65,320
3. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN): $63,090
4. Clinical Dietitian: $63,090
5. Food Service Manager: $56,590
6. Nutrition Educator: $56,030
7. Wellness Coordinator: $51,080
8. Health Coach: $50,850
9. Culinary Nutritionist: $50,598
10. Sports Nutritionist: $50,004

Regarding future prospects, the employment outlook for nutritionists and dietitians is generally positive. Dietitians and nutritionist employment is projected to grow 8% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average.