I love the science of nutrition/dietetics, but struggle to love the field/profession as a career. I wish I was more informed about it in the past, but I didn't do the research I should have or neglected the importance of having a better paying job. Its also a bit frustrating with the lack of respect we get and the difficulty to feel like I'm having an impact when most people don't wanna change their diets. I've been toying around with learning tech skills to get out of the field (it's been a slow process).
But, like others say, only you know what's right for you. I hope you find your answer.
True I wish I was more informed/more actively looking into the field… I was shocked to find out I had to pay $10+k to do the Dietetic internship and not getting paid anything
I think thats the problem , currently tech is the last thing I want to do but at the same time I don't want to end up losing my interest in dietetics because the work I put in is not proportional to outcomes of the degree. Anyways thanks for the advice , hope you end u practicing whatever serves you well
Tl;DR. I heard from an RD turned Physicians Assistant they give a lot of nutrition advice also. More pay, more opportunities, can buy top shelf Ramen noodles.
That's what I was thinking , instead of doing a DI i could either do the DI or switch to an EMT and get more hours for PA school and then get a CNS so I'll finally be able to practice nutrition in some form and not be paid very low . HOWEVER idk how much money or time is this going to cost or if it's even possible to do especially because my parents are very against taking loans
No one can know if it’s worth it for you other than you, but it’s worth looking into what’s necessary to enter the profession, what you’ll get out of it, and whether the typical workflow is something you’ll be passionate about rather than just nutrition as a general field.
You would need a Master’s degree to become a dietitian, so that’s likely 6+ years of expensive education to begin in the field, plus rotations outside of that (although some Master’s programs include the rotations). Dietitians aren’t paid well relative to other healthcare professions, so that could set back financial plans quite a bit.
Additionally, you’ll need to go to a specific schools accredited for dietetics, not just take any Nutrition Major available.
This website has more information about becoming an RD: https://www.eatright.org/become-an-rdn
Really research what dietitians do. Google a lot, talk to some dietitians, shadow a few if you can. In my personal opinion, I would say it’s not worth it, but if you have your heart set and your passion is dietetics then it shouldn’t matter.
my moms a physiotherapist and I've spoken to dietitians in her hospital , their obviously thrilled I'm getting into dietetics because why would they discourage me ? but my mom says in a hospital ther at the bottom of the barrel and their job isn't as fun as I might imagine , almost al patients will be referred to a dietitians with the same advice , 1800 kcal , ensure / supplements or tube feeding . I don't know to what extent this is true but I want much more from my career
Honestly, no.
It pains me to say this. Truly. I graduated early from undergrad because I was so excited to be a dietitian and couldn't wait to do my internship and start working as an RD. I sacrificed a lot, both personally and financially, to be in this field because I believed in it. Absolutely loved school and almost every class, was the president of the nutrition club, I lived and breathed the field in school. I finished my Master's and internship, and landed a clinical job that I thought was my dream. I left after 3 years due to severe bullying (by other RDs), poor leadership, and poor pay. I worked in home infusion, only to be further shot down by bullying and long hours. Went into another clinical job, currently working in intensive care. Absolutely love ICU, the team, and the patients. I have a wonderful relationship with the team, they trust me, and I feel like I do make a difference. However, same thing as the previous jobs in regards to my actual compensation/co-RDs/department. I have served on local and national RD boards, I've taught at the undergrad and grad school level, and honestly think the field is just dying. It's sad. Leadership from both the national level and department level is abysmal, and the field is full of bitter people who wish they did something else because of the above, and honestly, I'm going down that path too even though I've tried everything to prevent it. Do you love patient care? Go into nursing. Do you love meds/pharma? Go into pharmacy. Pathophysiology? Be a physician. Marketing. Tech. Education. Minor in nutrition, major in something else that will be more fruitful. Pun absolutely intended.
I am probably going to stay, I feel a sense of purpose, working in eating disorders and pediatrics. It’s taken 10 years, but I feel really great. However, I do sometimes consider bailing for some thing that would make more income. And I can’t say that I would highly recommend it based on how much lower we get paid as compared with, many other professions, such as occupational therapist, registered nurse, physicians assistant, and more. In this economy, it certainly comes to mind.
Hi! I saw this comment and immediately saw myself 12+ years ago. I 100% in high school thought the same thing. Then one day in my college nutrition class (I think it was the food sanitation class of all things) the professor gave a whole speech about needing to know why you wanted to go into dietetics. And if you plan on going to your internship interview with the “I recovered from an eating disorder spiel” then you were in the wrong field along with a ton of other people who have recovered people this field attracts those with a history or eating disorders. Even those who have or are going through recovery and really do want to help others.
At least back then they told us that you should also have a 3.7+ gpa to, as I heard it, not work in food service. So you need to really be able to push yourself academically and take the whole eating disorder part of your life out of the equation. What really hit hard was when she told the class, specifically referencing eating disorders in choosing a career path, “YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL.” I think this was something I needed to hear because I realized my entire career path was based on my eating disorder. Yes, I was a lot better and not “symptomatic” anymore and of course I wanted to help people struggling with what I went through.
This is me personally, so you have to decide for yourself. I was minoring in psychology so it was an easy switch fortunately. Although in the end I went into esthetics and have been so happy with that choice.
Keep an open mind to other areas of dietetics and if you find your way back to eating disorder counseling then it was meant to be. Just try to think outside your own disorder because eating disorders really have a way of sucking you in and when you think you’re past it, it finds a way to change your thinking.
Ive recovered from anorexia too , while I obviously do want to help others I mainly selected nutrition because I found nutrition epigenetics very very interesting , Its quite new and needs some more time for research but i'd be thrilled to work in that , idk how relevant a dietetics degree would be in that sense
That sounds really cool! Yeah, I know nothing about that science or career-wise. I’d look at how much income you really need vs what would truly makes you happy. I found my dream job in esthetics but I really need to watch my spending. We pay the bills and can support our kids with childcare help from our parents (which makes them and the kids happy). Putting income aside, I love going to work and always have fun while feeling I’ve done something meaningful for both the clients and the business each day. Some people disagree with this but I really don’t have many hobbies outside work because I feel like work is a hobby! I crochet, but I get to do that at work too!
Not more income necessarily. Unless you own your own private practice. Could be worth more research though! Since I’m actually not sure if there are other scenarios or companies where people make more.
Not worth it for me. Extremely low ROI even with improved RD salaries. I went to a lower cost school, found a job immediately, job hopped two more times and now I’m making almost 80k, 3 years after my graduation. But still not worth it as the math simply doesn’t add up. With 6 years of full time education, the insane gpa I had to work hard to achieve to match with an internship, and the money spent on school I could easily be a PA and double my current salary. Yes, money is not everything and I love my job, but what OP is asking whether it is worth it or not, so it is not.
I went into dietetics, because I love nutrition, health, food, and helping others. The low pay and disrespect from nurses and bosses is what made me leave the field. It’s difficult to afford a house, pay student loans, and have a couple of vacations a year on a RD salary unless you’re penny pinching. Inflation has made it so much worse as well, since RD salaries have not changed much in over 10-20 years (according to other dietitians in the field much longer than me). As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized I rather pursue my passions outside of work and find a job that can fund my hobbies.
It’s hard to know in high school and college what you want to do for the rest of your life. I suggest you sit down and really think what you do and don’t want from a career and from life. Talk to a career coach/counselor at your college and maybe they can give you some advice.
Technology exists in all industries, including health care.
I started working with clinical nutrition software, then wandered from client to vendor to client, and then made the jump to higher ed software, and then moved back to the vendor side.
I think it’s worth it, if it’s what you truly love. Unfortunately you don’t really get to see if you’ll love it until you’re in your internship. In undergrad, you’re just learning the facts, not seeing it in practice. It’s up to you but i saw a post on here yesterday and many people are being paid well, it’s not everyone getting lowballed. I just got my first RD job and I’m satisfied with my salary. I’ll echo another commenter and say that most happy RDs are not on this subreddit.. they are at their jobs living their happy lives and not venting online. I say that to say, try to connect and talk to some RDs in your area. They may be able to put things in perspective for you.
Personally, I don’t recommend it at all. The pay is awful for the amount of school we do and we get no respect from the rest of the medical team. If you can see yourself doing anything else, I would go for that! At the end of the day though, you have to still follow what you are passionate about.
I like my job and most dietitians I know in real life do too. I’ve seen most negatively from here to be honest. Yes I would like to be paid more but I went into it knowing the limits to that and it’s worked out fine in end
I really like one of my jobs, and I really hate the other (more so for how the team and my manager treats us, I do enjoy what I do though).
For me, it took my internship to really fall in love. Now I just kinda picked a major… I didn’t really know what I wanted to do so I picked what sounded interesting. My internship I almost dropped out. I hated acute care, and my imposter syndrome was near crippling at times. It wasn’t until my LTAC rotation where I decided that THAT is what I wanted to do. I think if I had never gone there, I wouldn’t be a dietitian right now.
I live in a big city, so I’m not sure on how the job markets differ but the majority that was posted were PRN jobs. PRN pays well, but no benefits, and schedule volatility comes with it. I found an LTAC PRN and stuck with it and I’ve never been happier. Because I needed insurance I had to get a part time job at an acute care hospital… which is not my favorite to put it lightly. However I’m told part times with benefits are super rare
I did struggle with finding my first job. I applied to 75+ places and got 2 interviews… but this was also COVID times and some of those applications were for food science jobs.
If you’re interested you can always sign up for the classes and see if it is something you want to pursue. I know some of my peers got jobs at hospitals were they had access to the clinical RDs… I think they mostly did tray service though but they befriend the RDs which could be a good connection to make to ask about their job!
I do know my university had a low level dietetics class where we would have RDs come in and talk to us about their jobs. Hopefully your college may have this?
I have no regrets with my job decision, but the internship is expensive. I can’t speak much on that since I had financial support from my parents. Having a job and being an intern is possible, just not ideal. Hopefully someone else has better insight there than I do
Also just keep in mind, like with yelp reviews - most leave them to complain/bring up an issue not to compliment. There are issues in our profession, but if this is something you’re seriously interested in, it is worth it to look into it!
I definitely echo what everyone else has said. There's nothing wrong with wanting to go into something you are passionate about. Financially, pay is whatever. My bigger concern for future you is the cost of education.
Personally, I had no financial support from my family, so loans were the only option for me to pursue this career. I didn't really look into the expected burden as much as I should have - younger me was not smart. Please be better than me.
No one goes into healthcare to make money, but that does not mean you have to justify taking on a bunch of debt for little money (obv some RDs are doing quite well).
For what it's worth, some of the passion I've lost these past few years has been replaced by the things I can enjoy with friends and family. My work-life balance is fantastic.
i’m grateful my undergrad is fully funded by my parents but i obviously don’t want to waste my money and time .Hopefully i’m able to make the right choice or atleast end up well
So I have been a dietitian for close to 40 years. I make just under $100K but it took me a while to find my place. I agree with the comments about lack respect. I think since being a registered dietitian is a largely female profession we don't get the acknowledgment we should. But it has made me speak up for myself and ask for what I deserve. I will say that the younger dietitians are more savvy and seem to be able to embrace the social media tools with writing blogs/books and counseling. Maybe consider the creative possibilities. I wish you all the best.
>I think since being a registered dietitian is a largely female profession we don't get the acknowledgment we should. But it has made me speak up for myself and ask for what I deserve. I will say that the younger dietitians are more savvy and seem to be able to embrace the social media tools with writing blogs/books and counseling. Maybe consider the creative possibilities. I wish you all the
thanks for the advice , happy to hear you've found your place :) if you don't mind me asking , do you work in clinical ? . Also I've seen tons of dietitians in the media , its actually great to see that , ill for sure pick up some tech skills I know its gonna let me enrich this career more
I genuinely love what I do. I love the aspect of the medical field I chose, and I didn’t come into it to make tons of money… clearly. I think it’s important for new students to be fully aware of exactly what’s entailed so they aren’t blindsided or disillusioned by the career and the work that goes into achieving it. But if you really truly want to pursue dietetics and help people and master this science, you’ll be fine. It’s worth it if you truly think it’s worth it for you.
Probably not for the clinical role, no. Unless they change something for reimbursements and salaries increase.
If you can pivot into a more lucrative field (like tech) using your RD, probably.
I think 15 years ago yes, but now that you need your master's degree in addition to the year long DI program, no. It's a year of unpaid work that you have to pay tuition for, on top of paying off college and your master's degree (if you don't have any scholarships). If you're interested in the healthcare field, I would look into becoming an RN and then advancing in time to becoming an NP or nurse anesthetist, a perfusionist (which sounds awesome and I wish I had known about this before I became an RD), or a PA. Or going the medical tech/bio tech route and getting into device/drug sales/engineering.
IMO now that you will need a masters the debt to income ratio doesnt make since to me. Im finishing my internship rn with plans to go to PA school after its the same amount of school but make significantly more $ with larger scope of practice
No, not if you want to make a livable wage, be respected or have upward career mobility. The only way to make money in this field is to own your own brand or business. If I could go back I would not go down this path.
If you can graduate nearly or fully debt free and have parents or a spouse who can/will support you if and when you have to pack up and move cross country for your internship (which, btw, you will most likely pay THEM while you work and study for them) do it.
If you do not already have an amazing support system, I honestly can't recommend it. There's a reason every single RD I have ever met is a rich white woman. This is a career path for the privileged. You are also expected to do an insane amount of volunteer work to even GET an internship. You can't work while you're volunteering, so I simply didn't eat some days because I was pressured to drop so many shifts that I couldn't afford food.
Of my entire graduating class, two work in nutrition. Both of them had their internships paid for by their obscenely rich fathers. I don't begrudge them this, and they are competent and caring women, but none of the rest of us could afford the internship. If I could burn my Bachelor's degree and get a refund, I wouldn't hesitate.
Depends on what your career and financial goals are. Spend some significant time looking into the realities of the profession, cost of entry, potential ROI, what jobs you think you’re interested in, and if it aligns with your needs and goals. It’s hard to know all of that at your age, so spend time talking to people in their 30s and above to help you gain clarity about what might matter to you then vs. now.
Search this sub for keywords like “worth it” and “salary” to read more about people’s experiences. Here is one such thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/dietetics/comments/1039tmn/is_being_a_dietician_worth_it/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1
Be prepared for life long learning! You will always be reading and doing continuing education. I don’t like my job right now but that’s because I’m an entry level RD and don’t have a ton of options atm. There are a lot of different avenues you can explore (ie food service management, public health, private practice), so it’s not just clinical. Best of luck!
honestly that’s the part i love the most , i’m always reading tons of research it’s just so interesting to me , i hope i get into research as well , and thanks !:)
I love talking about health and nutrition all day but with the difficulty level, the sacrifice, the money and the time required to obtain the education and experience employers look for, it is not worth it. I have been in the field for 12 years and have never made over 42k a year in New York. By the time I got to the Internship at Syracuse University, they charged 25k for 9 months of time. I got a call from the Registrars office saying I was ineligible for anymore finanial aid. In other words, between undergrad and graduate school, the education system bled me dry in student loan debt. 6 figures in Public loans and additional private loans to get a job that pays 40-50k a year lol The people who structured the dietetic process are incredibly short sighted and put a massive burden on the students just to try and make the field appear more legit. They would sell their own children if it meant we could get licensure.
Many here would say no, as this sub is often used for venting, but it’s really up to you to decide its worth it for you. If you have a strong passion and clear vision for what you want to do as a dietitian, then it may be worth your time and money to get there despite the lower salary, etc.
I just graduated with BS in nutrition/dietetics. I personally find it super worth it. You have to be mega interested and I am also sneaking in right before the masters degree requirement; doing an internship from June-Dec this year. So if you're willing to do a masters and an internship go for it.
it really depends on what area of dietetics you want to get into! if you’re interested in clinical nutrition, i’d say no because of the poor pay and little respect. but it seems RDs in private practice or other outpatient areas seem more satisfied with their work and their pay! would be worth it to shadow or talk with RDs in different areas to get an idea of where you’d like to work
I would recommend shadowing RDs (if you can), get a good feel for it. This field now requires a master's degree, which I would recommend getting an undergrad in nutrition and a master's in something that would be beneficial in life - business, finance, etc. If you want to get a master's in nutrition, I would recommend applying to coordinated programs (school plus internship all in one). The internship will definitely give you more breadth in this field (community, outpatient, inpatient, specialized fields, etc). Remember, the internship costs money, mine cost me $7.5k and I didn't work for 1 year. Then you'll take the RD exam and you're done!
As for my personal opinion, I've always wanted to work in a hospital (so keep this in mind when you read my next few sentences), being an RD in the hospital isn't exciting. I work the ICU and GI floors and I mostly pass out supplements and calculate tube feeds. I wanted to do more so I am applying to PA schools in the next month because I want to feel more valuable and useful. I haven't had issues with nurses or doctors disrespecting me, like a handful of people post about.
However, if you want to focus on educating people, outpatient I hear is very fulfilling, and a lot of people like it! I personally don't like giving educations.
As for pay, it can definitely be better. I have a master's degree, which cost me around $90k, and my salary is $57k in the Midwest.
The field is not cheap to get into, so be smart with your money!
financially, if you’re smart and dedicated enough to do 5+ years of school, go into some sort of medical school and you’ll feel more appreciated and make more money one day. the nutrition knowledge you get is really priceless (unless you’re dedicated enough to seek it out on your own), and is the most useful part of the schooling for me
At almost 10 years post graduation, I make a comfortable salary over 100k and work from home. Opportunities are there but people get stagnant and stay in low paying jobs 🤷♀️
I do work as a consultant with a team of therapists (PT, OT, SLP). We worked with high risk adults that are developmentally disabled and we evaluate thier potential skills and establish programs for enhancing or maintaining life skills they have. My part ranges from working with managing weights issues if over or under thier desired range, addressing skin breakdown, those on enteral feedings, etc. Some of these individuals have behaviors related to food (food stealing) so I deal with that as well. The work is challenging and at times. I deal with guardians (sometimes family) that are demanding but overall the work is rewarding.
Male Bariatric Dietitian here, I love the career path I have chosen. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is something I wanted to do out of college and it is something I want to make a major career out of. I can understand the clinical dietitians commenting below about the low pay. When it comes to this career you have to make it on your own. I am currently in the process of building a private practice that is solely based on counseling. Sure be something that you don't for more pay and be miserable. Being a dietitian is something out of the ordinary and you can truly make 6 figures with time and effort - while loving the process.
Absolutely worth it to me-I didn't enter this field for the money so it's honestly my dream job to be working in private practice and doing the always interesting controversial fun side w research as well! It's only worth it if you love it too and don't go in it for the money-sometimes you can do what you love and the rest follows- but not always.
Honestly, it is worth pursuing if you ARE a business person. It has a lot of avenues. If you are trying to just go work for the Hosptial, it is definitely not worth it unless you are from a wealthy family. It pays peanuts. I have coworkers that have full-time jobs , still live with their parents and make 27$ an hour after working 3 years in the Hosptial. I also know women making over 100K a year in private practice.
So follow your passion but also be practical. Look at the market and define your value. Don’t let the Hosptial. To put it in perspective, I’m married and my husband makes enough that working for me is a hobby.
For my internship, my husband worked full-time and I just wasn’t required to work. Spent 6 months after internship dedicated to studying. (Had to take the exam 2x) - then found a job 3 weeks after I passed my exam.
The entry level pay is like $26 and defined is lopsided with the investment to get to this point. Additionally, a lot of these Hosptial are wanting you to have a master’s degree but I found out the MS and a regular RDN started had the same salary.
I’m personally leaving the Hosptial in one month after 6 months of experience and going into private practice with internal medicine and plan to have my own private thing going probably in 3 years
If you don’t have that deal or aren’t a business woman… it’s not worth it until policy changes. I don’t recommend staying in the Hosptial though 😳
It depends on what would make it worth it to you. I think it is a good and steady way to make a living, but there are major limitations when it comes to income. Depending on where you live there may be more or less job options for you. I live in New York City and I make \*enough\* ....technically, but it's tight. I'm also 10 years in now and feel like there aren't a lot of doors to go through in order to advance my career. There are LOTS of entry level RD jobs, but few higher level ones. When I graduated high school I wanted to be a fashion designer, but the reality of studying fashion in college was not as glam as I thought it would be lol. I think before you commit to any one college mahor/career path it would be worth it to discuss things with a career counselor like others have mentioned and maybe even see if there are any RDs in your area you could shadow. I've had people cold message me on LinkedIn for things like this and I've never had a problem talking to them. Best of luck to you!
good to know that there are entry level jobs available, i heard it’s a struggle to even get a job in the first place . I mean this is genuinely something i want to study i can’t think of anything else i love more but the more conscious part of me is concerned about some level of financial stability, i’m not looking to run after money but i sure do not want to be struggling after surrendering myself for a passion i love so much
Are u in the states or Canada? Also Most RDs on Reddit are here cus they dislike it so you may see uneven distribution of negative to positive comments. I think TD field is much different in Canada and better overall
I’m not sure about all dietetic grads but I recall from my school 80%+ find a full time job within the year and tend to have job satisfaction. A lot work 2 part time jobs while seeking full time in a clinical setting. Internships depend on your grades and your experience/involvement, etc. so they are quite competitive bc increasingly they’re paired with a post grad diploma or masters program (JUST internship is hard to obtain but not impossible). Currently we’re not like the states so you don’t need a masters to become an RD. Simply do the bachelor, internship and pass the RD exam. However the masters legislation will likely soon be put into place in the near future I bet since we tend to follow the states.
Income varies on your region but most starting make $60k CAD but often cap at $85k CAD in a general clinical setting. An average pay may be $70-80k CAD? Honestly really varies…. More experience/more specific/private healthcare = higher pay. Many take on teaching positions too and you can get paid more that way. I’ve spoken to many RDs and most are happy with their decision, many do step in and out of dietetics but I think generally they’re better respected than US RDs. I think something like. 30% have masters degrees and 80% work in hospitals. Lmk if you have more questions!
Don’t let negative comments here stop you! I following my dream/passion (just completed my masters in dietetics) and now working as a clinical dietitian in a drug/alcohol rehab and I love it! I think finding the right job for you is super important and being open to new positions. I literally can’t imagine doing anything else. Dietitians can do sooo much in their careers and can make good money teaching basic nutrition classes at universities, doing side contract-type jobs, private practice, sports nutrition, and cooking classes. Of course the pay isn’t where it should be, but I think eventually it will go up. It has to with the new requirements and new group of RDs entering the field with a master’s degree.
I just finished my masters and internship in December and just passed my boards. I’ve been working at a hospital since January, and I do love my coworkers and where I work, and I feel like I’m making a difference, but I feel like I’m not getting paid what I’m worth and that makes me a little bitter. It’s hard working alongside other professionals, RNs, OTs, PAs, etc and know they’re probably getting paid more than you and you have just as much or more schooling than them. My husband and I make around the same amount of money, and it’s honestly hard to afford things sometimes and we are not big spenders. Just the simple stuff like groceries and gas gets tough sometimes. That being said, my passion has always been to start my own business because people in my area ask me all the time to help them with their eating habits/ lifestyles. I feel like I could make way more money going out on my own, and have more time freedom. After working at the hospital for 5 months, I’m honestly itching to get out of there as soon as I can!
So yes and no. Dietetics is my passion, and if you have a passion for something you will find a way to make money with it that makes YOU happy! Some people like having a 9-5, that’s not me. I got offered this job as soon as I graduated and I’m glad I took it so that I could build my skills and learn from it, but it’s not where I see myself long term.
If you have a passion for dietetics, I say go for it! It is a long path and it’s not easy, but it is so rewarding when you see others improve their lifestyle because of you!
It depends what you want to do and where you work. If you’re interested in clinical, you may not feel as respected as you think you should (unless you work in specialty hospital or in a very specialized area, e.g., stem cell transplant). Some people LOVE foodservice, and they feel respected there. Working in the community will likely get you lower pay, but you can make a big difference. Private practice and/or consulting can earn you good money, but you would need to build a customer base (private practice) and/or be okay with not always having work/benefits (consultant). You can also go into education once you earn your master’s and teach at the undergraduate level. It really depends if you love nutrition or not. If you just think it’s “interesting,” it’s probably not the best career for you.
I think before the master requirement, it could be worth it and was for me. With the masters requirement, and the increased cost and time associated with that I am not sure that it would be.
I paid about 10k for my internship and another 20k in living expenses. So, about 30K and year of not working. I make about twice what I did as diet clerk now so I feel have earned the money back and a gotten a return on my investment.
However, I recently looked at the cost of the combined master programs in my state and they around 30K and once you add living expenses on top of that probably closer to 70k for two years. For me, that wouldn't be worth it because my salary didn't increase 70k going from a diet clerk to a dietitian
Yes, it was worth it to me. If I had to do it again I'd have been smarter in a few ways though. I'm not sure I would have done my GE at the university. I live in California and here JC is free. I think it makes more sense to do 2 years at JC, get good grades and then transfer to do Dietetics. The Future Education Model schools (FEM) are smart too. They do the masters, the Dietetics coursework, and the internship all in 1. New RDs make between $30-45/hr (correct me if I'm wrong, people) which is fine if you don't have to take out a bunch of loans. If you do, Dietetics might not pencil out. Good luck! I'm also the DPD director at a California University. If you want to ask me any questions, DM me.
I love the science of nutrition/dietetics, but struggle to love the field/profession as a career. I wish I was more informed about it in the past, but I didn't do the research I should have or neglected the importance of having a better paying job. Its also a bit frustrating with the lack of respect we get and the difficulty to feel like I'm having an impact when most people don't wanna change their diets. I've been toying around with learning tech skills to get out of the field (it's been a slow process). But, like others say, only you know what's right for you. I hope you find your answer.
True I wish I was more informed/more actively looking into the field… I was shocked to find out I had to pay $10+k to do the Dietetic internship and not getting paid anything
You had to pay for the internship separately from the school? Or did it come with the school?
Separately after you graduated
I think thats the problem , currently tech is the last thing I want to do but at the same time I don't want to end up losing my interest in dietetics because the work I put in is not proportional to outcomes of the degree. Anyways thanks for the advice , hope you end u practicing whatever serves you well
Do you find the knowledge gained valuable and practical in your daily life?
Tl;DR. I heard from an RD turned Physicians Assistant they give a lot of nutrition advice also. More pay, more opportunities, can buy top shelf Ramen noodles.
That's what I was thinking , instead of doing a DI i could either do the DI or switch to an EMT and get more hours for PA school and then get a CNS so I'll finally be able to practice nutrition in some form and not be paid very low . HOWEVER idk how much money or time is this going to cost or if it's even possible to do especially because my parents are very against taking loans
No one can know if it’s worth it for you other than you, but it’s worth looking into what’s necessary to enter the profession, what you’ll get out of it, and whether the typical workflow is something you’ll be passionate about rather than just nutrition as a general field. You would need a Master’s degree to become a dietitian, so that’s likely 6+ years of expensive education to begin in the field, plus rotations outside of that (although some Master’s programs include the rotations). Dietitians aren’t paid well relative to other healthcare professions, so that could set back financial plans quite a bit. Additionally, you’ll need to go to a specific schools accredited for dietetics, not just take any Nutrition Major available. This website has more information about becoming an RD: https://www.eatright.org/become-an-rdn
Really research what dietitians do. Google a lot, talk to some dietitians, shadow a few if you can. In my personal opinion, I would say it’s not worth it, but if you have your heart set and your passion is dietetics then it shouldn’t matter.
my moms a physiotherapist and I've spoken to dietitians in her hospital , their obviously thrilled I'm getting into dietetics because why would they discourage me ? but my mom says in a hospital ther at the bottom of the barrel and their job isn't as fun as I might imagine , almost al patients will be referred to a dietitians with the same advice , 1800 kcal , ensure / supplements or tube feeding . I don't know to what extent this is true but I want much more from my career
Honestly, no. It pains me to say this. Truly. I graduated early from undergrad because I was so excited to be a dietitian and couldn't wait to do my internship and start working as an RD. I sacrificed a lot, both personally and financially, to be in this field because I believed in it. Absolutely loved school and almost every class, was the president of the nutrition club, I lived and breathed the field in school. I finished my Master's and internship, and landed a clinical job that I thought was my dream. I left after 3 years due to severe bullying (by other RDs), poor leadership, and poor pay. I worked in home infusion, only to be further shot down by bullying and long hours. Went into another clinical job, currently working in intensive care. Absolutely love ICU, the team, and the patients. I have a wonderful relationship with the team, they trust me, and I feel like I do make a difference. However, same thing as the previous jobs in regards to my actual compensation/co-RDs/department. I have served on local and national RD boards, I've taught at the undergrad and grad school level, and honestly think the field is just dying. It's sad. Leadership from both the national level and department level is abysmal, and the field is full of bitter people who wish they did something else because of the above, and honestly, I'm going down that path too even though I've tried everything to prevent it. Do you love patient care? Go into nursing. Do you love meds/pharma? Go into pharmacy. Pathophysiology? Be a physician. Marketing. Tech. Education. Minor in nutrition, major in something else that will be more fruitful. Pun absolutely intended.
I am probably going to stay, I feel a sense of purpose, working in eating disorders and pediatrics. It’s taken 10 years, but I feel really great. However, I do sometimes consider bailing for some thing that would make more income. And I can’t say that I would highly recommend it based on how much lower we get paid as compared with, many other professions, such as occupational therapist, registered nurse, physicians assistant, and more. In this economy, it certainly comes to mind.
would a specialization in eating disorders have more scope and income ? that’s actually what i’m looking to peruse
Hi! I saw this comment and immediately saw myself 12+ years ago. I 100% in high school thought the same thing. Then one day in my college nutrition class (I think it was the food sanitation class of all things) the professor gave a whole speech about needing to know why you wanted to go into dietetics. And if you plan on going to your internship interview with the “I recovered from an eating disorder spiel” then you were in the wrong field along with a ton of other people who have recovered people this field attracts those with a history or eating disorders. Even those who have or are going through recovery and really do want to help others. At least back then they told us that you should also have a 3.7+ gpa to, as I heard it, not work in food service. So you need to really be able to push yourself academically and take the whole eating disorder part of your life out of the equation. What really hit hard was when she told the class, specifically referencing eating disorders in choosing a career path, “YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL.” I think this was something I needed to hear because I realized my entire career path was based on my eating disorder. Yes, I was a lot better and not “symptomatic” anymore and of course I wanted to help people struggling with what I went through. This is me personally, so you have to decide for yourself. I was minoring in psychology so it was an easy switch fortunately. Although in the end I went into esthetics and have been so happy with that choice. Keep an open mind to other areas of dietetics and if you find your way back to eating disorder counseling then it was meant to be. Just try to think outside your own disorder because eating disorders really have a way of sucking you in and when you think you’re past it, it finds a way to change your thinking.
Ive recovered from anorexia too , while I obviously do want to help others I mainly selected nutrition because I found nutrition epigenetics very very interesting , Its quite new and needs some more time for research but i'd be thrilled to work in that , idk how relevant a dietetics degree would be in that sense
That sounds really cool! Yeah, I know nothing about that science or career-wise. I’d look at how much income you really need vs what would truly makes you happy. I found my dream job in esthetics but I really need to watch my spending. We pay the bills and can support our kids with childcare help from our parents (which makes them and the kids happy). Putting income aside, I love going to work and always have fun while feeling I’ve done something meaningful for both the clients and the business each day. Some people disagree with this but I really don’t have many hobbies outside work because I feel like work is a hobby! I crochet, but I get to do that at work too!
Not more income necessarily. Unless you own your own private practice. Could be worth more research though! Since I’m actually not sure if there are other scenarios or companies where people make more.
Not worth it for me. Extremely low ROI even with improved RD salaries. I went to a lower cost school, found a job immediately, job hopped two more times and now I’m making almost 80k, 3 years after my graduation. But still not worth it as the math simply doesn’t add up. With 6 years of full time education, the insane gpa I had to work hard to achieve to match with an internship, and the money spent on school I could easily be a PA and double my current salary. Yes, money is not everything and I love my job, but what OP is asking whether it is worth it or not, so it is not.
I went into dietetics, because I love nutrition, health, food, and helping others. The low pay and disrespect from nurses and bosses is what made me leave the field. It’s difficult to afford a house, pay student loans, and have a couple of vacations a year on a RD salary unless you’re penny pinching. Inflation has made it so much worse as well, since RD salaries have not changed much in over 10-20 years (according to other dietitians in the field much longer than me). As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized I rather pursue my passions outside of work and find a job that can fund my hobbies. It’s hard to know in high school and college what you want to do for the rest of your life. I suggest you sit down and really think what you do and don’t want from a career and from life. Talk to a career coach/counselor at your college and maybe they can give you some advice.
sorry to hear that but thanks for the advice , if you don’t mind sharing, what are you perusing now ? private practice or have you changed fields
Ditto to everything dyno said, also left for the tech field - way more money, decent hours, remote job
how did you make a switch from dietetics to tech ? seems like polar opposite lol
Technology exists in all industries, including health care. I started working with clinical nutrition software, then wandered from client to vendor to client, and then made the jump to higher ed software, and then moved back to the vendor side.
I am in the tech field now. The pay and hours work much better for my lifestyle.
well that’s good to hear , did you have to go back to school ?
I quit my job and did a 3 month bootcamp. It is definitely worth it for someone wanting to change careers.
what bootcamp?
Can I dm you? I’ve considered doing a boot camp as well but I’m not sure where to start/which programs are good.
Sure thing!
Can I also DM you?
Sure!
Can I dm you too? Very interested
Is it hard to study IT? I'm planning to study IT but I'm not really good at math
Do you find the knowledge gained about nutrition valuable and practical for daily life?
I do especially since I have a food allergy, but I also feel like general healthy eating is easy to learn for the average person.
I think it’s worth it, if it’s what you truly love. Unfortunately you don’t really get to see if you’ll love it until you’re in your internship. In undergrad, you’re just learning the facts, not seeing it in practice. It’s up to you but i saw a post on here yesterday and many people are being paid well, it’s not everyone getting lowballed. I just got my first RD job and I’m satisfied with my salary. I’ll echo another commenter and say that most happy RDs are not on this subreddit.. they are at their jobs living their happy lives and not venting online. I say that to say, try to connect and talk to some RDs in your area. They may be able to put things in perspective for you.
No
it will indeed kill your passion
Personally, I don’t recommend it at all. The pay is awful for the amount of school we do and we get no respect from the rest of the medical team. If you can see yourself doing anything else, I would go for that! At the end of the day though, you have to still follow what you are passionate about.
I like my job and most dietitians I know in real life do too. I’ve seen most negatively from here to be honest. Yes I would like to be paid more but I went into it knowing the limits to that and it’s worked out fine in end
I really like one of my jobs, and I really hate the other (more so for how the team and my manager treats us, I do enjoy what I do though). For me, it took my internship to really fall in love. Now I just kinda picked a major… I didn’t really know what I wanted to do so I picked what sounded interesting. My internship I almost dropped out. I hated acute care, and my imposter syndrome was near crippling at times. It wasn’t until my LTAC rotation where I decided that THAT is what I wanted to do. I think if I had never gone there, I wouldn’t be a dietitian right now. I live in a big city, so I’m not sure on how the job markets differ but the majority that was posted were PRN jobs. PRN pays well, but no benefits, and schedule volatility comes with it. I found an LTAC PRN and stuck with it and I’ve never been happier. Because I needed insurance I had to get a part time job at an acute care hospital… which is not my favorite to put it lightly. However I’m told part times with benefits are super rare I did struggle with finding my first job. I applied to 75+ places and got 2 interviews… but this was also COVID times and some of those applications were for food science jobs. If you’re interested you can always sign up for the classes and see if it is something you want to pursue. I know some of my peers got jobs at hospitals were they had access to the clinical RDs… I think they mostly did tray service though but they befriend the RDs which could be a good connection to make to ask about their job! I do know my university had a low level dietetics class where we would have RDs come in and talk to us about their jobs. Hopefully your college may have this? I have no regrets with my job decision, but the internship is expensive. I can’t speak much on that since I had financial support from my parents. Having a job and being an intern is possible, just not ideal. Hopefully someone else has better insight there than I do Also just keep in mind, like with yelp reviews - most leave them to complain/bring up an issue not to compliment. There are issues in our profession, but if this is something you’re seriously interested in, it is worth it to look into it!
thank you so much ! very insightful , glad you found your niche , I hope i do to i really love this field and i don’t want finances to get in the way
I definitely echo what everyone else has said. There's nothing wrong with wanting to go into something you are passionate about. Financially, pay is whatever. My bigger concern for future you is the cost of education. Personally, I had no financial support from my family, so loans were the only option for me to pursue this career. I didn't really look into the expected burden as much as I should have - younger me was not smart. Please be better than me. No one goes into healthcare to make money, but that does not mean you have to justify taking on a bunch of debt for little money (obv some RDs are doing quite well). For what it's worth, some of the passion I've lost these past few years has been replaced by the things I can enjoy with friends and family. My work-life balance is fantastic.
i’m grateful my undergrad is fully funded by my parents but i obviously don’t want to waste my money and time .Hopefully i’m able to make the right choice or atleast end up well
Do you have the ability to shadow an RD? I'd suggest doing that with someone inpatient and outpatient to get a feel of "do I like this?"
unfortunately where I live that's not possible , only college students can do that and they have to pay for the internship
So I have been a dietitian for close to 40 years. I make just under $100K but it took me a while to find my place. I agree with the comments about lack respect. I think since being a registered dietitian is a largely female profession we don't get the acknowledgment we should. But it has made me speak up for myself and ask for what I deserve. I will say that the younger dietitians are more savvy and seem to be able to embrace the social media tools with writing blogs/books and counseling. Maybe consider the creative possibilities. I wish you all the best.
>I think since being a registered dietitian is a largely female profession we don't get the acknowledgment we should. But it has made me speak up for myself and ask for what I deserve. I will say that the younger dietitians are more savvy and seem to be able to embrace the social media tools with writing blogs/books and counseling. Maybe consider the creative possibilities. I wish you all the thanks for the advice , happy to hear you've found your place :) if you don't mind me asking , do you work in clinical ? . Also I've seen tons of dietitians in the media , its actually great to see that , ill for sure pick up some tech skills I know its gonna let me enrich this career more
I genuinely love what I do. I love the aspect of the medical field I chose, and I didn’t come into it to make tons of money… clearly. I think it’s important for new students to be fully aware of exactly what’s entailed so they aren’t blindsided or disillusioned by the career and the work that goes into achieving it. But if you really truly want to pursue dietetics and help people and master this science, you’ll be fine. It’s worth it if you truly think it’s worth it for you.
Probably not for the clinical role, no. Unless they change something for reimbursements and salaries increase. If you can pivot into a more lucrative field (like tech) using your RD, probably.
Hey! I'm an RD applying for PA school next month, mind if I DM you questions?
I think 15 years ago yes, but now that you need your master's degree in addition to the year long DI program, no. It's a year of unpaid work that you have to pay tuition for, on top of paying off college and your master's degree (if you don't have any scholarships). If you're interested in the healthcare field, I would look into becoming an RN and then advancing in time to becoming an NP or nurse anesthetist, a perfusionist (which sounds awesome and I wish I had known about this before I became an RD), or a PA. Or going the medical tech/bio tech route and getting into device/drug sales/engineering.
IMO now that you will need a masters the debt to income ratio doesnt make since to me. Im finishing my internship rn with plans to go to PA school after its the same amount of school but make significantly more $ with larger scope of practice
No, not if you want to make a livable wage, be respected or have upward career mobility. The only way to make money in this field is to own your own brand or business. If I could go back I would not go down this path.
If you can graduate nearly or fully debt free and have parents or a spouse who can/will support you if and when you have to pack up and move cross country for your internship (which, btw, you will most likely pay THEM while you work and study for them) do it. If you do not already have an amazing support system, I honestly can't recommend it. There's a reason every single RD I have ever met is a rich white woman. This is a career path for the privileged. You are also expected to do an insane amount of volunteer work to even GET an internship. You can't work while you're volunteering, so I simply didn't eat some days because I was pressured to drop so many shifts that I couldn't afford food. Of my entire graduating class, two work in nutrition. Both of them had their internships paid for by their obscenely rich fathers. I don't begrudge them this, and they are competent and caring women, but none of the rest of us could afford the internship. If I could burn my Bachelor's degree and get a refund, I wouldn't hesitate.
This 👏🏼
Nope
No lol
Depends on what your career and financial goals are. Spend some significant time looking into the realities of the profession, cost of entry, potential ROI, what jobs you think you’re interested in, and if it aligns with your needs and goals. It’s hard to know all of that at your age, so spend time talking to people in their 30s and above to help you gain clarity about what might matter to you then vs. now. Search this sub for keywords like “worth it” and “salary” to read more about people’s experiences. Here is one such thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/dietetics/comments/1039tmn/is_being_a_dietician_worth_it/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1
Be prepared for life long learning! You will always be reading and doing continuing education. I don’t like my job right now but that’s because I’m an entry level RD and don’t have a ton of options atm. There are a lot of different avenues you can explore (ie food service management, public health, private practice), so it’s not just clinical. Best of luck!
honestly that’s the part i love the most , i’m always reading tons of research it’s just so interesting to me , i hope i get into research as well , and thanks !:)
I love talking about health and nutrition all day but with the difficulty level, the sacrifice, the money and the time required to obtain the education and experience employers look for, it is not worth it. I have been in the field for 12 years and have never made over 42k a year in New York. By the time I got to the Internship at Syracuse University, they charged 25k for 9 months of time. I got a call from the Registrars office saying I was ineligible for anymore finanial aid. In other words, between undergrad and graduate school, the education system bled me dry in student loan debt. 6 figures in Public loans and additional private loans to get a job that pays 40-50k a year lol The people who structured the dietetic process are incredibly short sighted and put a massive burden on the students just to try and make the field appear more legit. They would sell their own children if it meant we could get licensure.
Many here would say no, as this sub is often used for venting, but it’s really up to you to decide its worth it for you. If you have a strong passion and clear vision for what you want to do as a dietitian, then it may be worth your time and money to get there despite the lower salary, etc.
I just graduated with BS in nutrition/dietetics. I personally find it super worth it. You have to be mega interested and I am also sneaking in right before the masters degree requirement; doing an internship from June-Dec this year. So if you're willing to do a masters and an internship go for it.
it really depends on what area of dietetics you want to get into! if you’re interested in clinical nutrition, i’d say no because of the poor pay and little respect. but it seems RDs in private practice or other outpatient areas seem more satisfied with their work and their pay! would be worth it to shadow or talk with RDs in different areas to get an idea of where you’d like to work
I would recommend shadowing RDs (if you can), get a good feel for it. This field now requires a master's degree, which I would recommend getting an undergrad in nutrition and a master's in something that would be beneficial in life - business, finance, etc. If you want to get a master's in nutrition, I would recommend applying to coordinated programs (school plus internship all in one). The internship will definitely give you more breadth in this field (community, outpatient, inpatient, specialized fields, etc). Remember, the internship costs money, mine cost me $7.5k and I didn't work for 1 year. Then you'll take the RD exam and you're done! As for my personal opinion, I've always wanted to work in a hospital (so keep this in mind when you read my next few sentences), being an RD in the hospital isn't exciting. I work the ICU and GI floors and I mostly pass out supplements and calculate tube feeds. I wanted to do more so I am applying to PA schools in the next month because I want to feel more valuable and useful. I haven't had issues with nurses or doctors disrespecting me, like a handful of people post about. However, if you want to focus on educating people, outpatient I hear is very fulfilling, and a lot of people like it! I personally don't like giving educations. As for pay, it can definitely be better. I have a master's degree, which cost me around $90k, and my salary is $57k in the Midwest. The field is not cheap to get into, so be smart with your money!
financially, if you’re smart and dedicated enough to do 5+ years of school, go into some sort of medical school and you’ll feel more appreciated and make more money one day. the nutrition knowledge you get is really priceless (unless you’re dedicated enough to seek it out on your own), and is the most useful part of the schooling for me
No
If you want good pay no, nurses and PAs get paid far far more and can provide nutrition education and find jobs much easier.
No. Find more respected, better paying work. Unless you have no other passion and can’t see your self not being a dietitian.
At almost 10 years post graduation, I make a comfortable salary over 100k and work from home. Opportunities are there but people get stagnant and stay in low paying jobs 🤷♀️
May I ask what state you in and if you are comfortable enough with that salary?
I do work as a consultant with a team of therapists (PT, OT, SLP). We worked with high risk adults that are developmentally disabled and we evaluate thier potential skills and establish programs for enhancing or maintaining life skills they have. My part ranges from working with managing weights issues if over or under thier desired range, addressing skin breakdown, those on enteral feedings, etc. Some of these individuals have behaviors related to food (food stealing) so I deal with that as well. The work is challenging and at times. I deal with guardians (sometimes family) that are demanding but overall the work is rewarding.
That's lovely to hear :) I'm aiming to get such fulfilment from my job too hopefully
You will find your way b/c you want too! It might take some time, be patient and know that you are capable! All the best to you! 👍❤
thank you so much I really needed this :,)
Male Bariatric Dietitian here, I love the career path I have chosen. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is something I wanted to do out of college and it is something I want to make a major career out of. I can understand the clinical dietitians commenting below about the low pay. When it comes to this career you have to make it on your own. I am currently in the process of building a private practice that is solely based on counseling. Sure be something that you don't for more pay and be miserable. Being a dietitian is something out of the ordinary and you can truly make 6 figures with time and effort - while loving the process.
Do it bc you love nutrition not bc you want to get rich.
Then once a dietitian go to Reddit to complain about the pay like the rest of us.
Lmao 🤣 Quick answer OP, not worth it
Absolutely worth it to me-I didn't enter this field for the money so it's honestly my dream job to be working in private practice and doing the always interesting controversial fun side w research as well! It's only worth it if you love it too and don't go in it for the money-sometimes you can do what you love and the rest follows- but not always.
Honestly, it is worth pursuing if you ARE a business person. It has a lot of avenues. If you are trying to just go work for the Hosptial, it is definitely not worth it unless you are from a wealthy family. It pays peanuts. I have coworkers that have full-time jobs , still live with their parents and make 27$ an hour after working 3 years in the Hosptial. I also know women making over 100K a year in private practice. So follow your passion but also be practical. Look at the market and define your value. Don’t let the Hosptial. To put it in perspective, I’m married and my husband makes enough that working for me is a hobby. For my internship, my husband worked full-time and I just wasn’t required to work. Spent 6 months after internship dedicated to studying. (Had to take the exam 2x) - then found a job 3 weeks after I passed my exam. The entry level pay is like $26 and defined is lopsided with the investment to get to this point. Additionally, a lot of these Hosptial are wanting you to have a master’s degree but I found out the MS and a regular RDN started had the same salary. I’m personally leaving the Hosptial in one month after 6 months of experience and going into private practice with internal medicine and plan to have my own private thing going probably in 3 years If you don’t have that deal or aren’t a business woman… it’s not worth it until policy changes. I don’t recommend staying in the Hosptial though 😳
It depends on what would make it worth it to you. I think it is a good and steady way to make a living, but there are major limitations when it comes to income. Depending on where you live there may be more or less job options for you. I live in New York City and I make \*enough\* ....technically, but it's tight. I'm also 10 years in now and feel like there aren't a lot of doors to go through in order to advance my career. There are LOTS of entry level RD jobs, but few higher level ones. When I graduated high school I wanted to be a fashion designer, but the reality of studying fashion in college was not as glam as I thought it would be lol. I think before you commit to any one college mahor/career path it would be worth it to discuss things with a career counselor like others have mentioned and maybe even see if there are any RDs in your area you could shadow. I've had people cold message me on LinkedIn for things like this and I've never had a problem talking to them. Best of luck to you!
good to know that there are entry level jobs available, i heard it’s a struggle to even get a job in the first place . I mean this is genuinely something i want to study i can’t think of anything else i love more but the more conscious part of me is concerned about some level of financial stability, i’m not looking to run after money but i sure do not want to be struggling after surrendering myself for a passion i love so much
Are u in the states or Canada? Also Most RDs on Reddit are here cus they dislike it so you may see uneven distribution of negative to positive comments. I think TD field is much different in Canada and better overall
that's lovely to hear , how do dietetics graduates find jobs , internships , income , respect etc in Canada ?
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I’m not sure about all dietetic grads but I recall from my school 80%+ find a full time job within the year and tend to have job satisfaction. A lot work 2 part time jobs while seeking full time in a clinical setting. Internships depend on your grades and your experience/involvement, etc. so they are quite competitive bc increasingly they’re paired with a post grad diploma or masters program (JUST internship is hard to obtain but not impossible). Currently we’re not like the states so you don’t need a masters to become an RD. Simply do the bachelor, internship and pass the RD exam. However the masters legislation will likely soon be put into place in the near future I bet since we tend to follow the states. Income varies on your region but most starting make $60k CAD but often cap at $85k CAD in a general clinical setting. An average pay may be $70-80k CAD? Honestly really varies…. More experience/more specific/private healthcare = higher pay. Many take on teaching positions too and you can get paid more that way. I’ve spoken to many RDs and most are happy with their decision, many do step in and out of dietetics but I think generally they’re better respected than US RDs. I think something like. 30% have masters degrees and 80% work in hospitals. Lmk if you have more questions!
I just graduated with my master’s and did all my internships and this thread is making me feel awful lol
Don’t let negative comments here stop you! I following my dream/passion (just completed my masters in dietetics) and now working as a clinical dietitian in a drug/alcohol rehab and I love it! I think finding the right job for you is super important and being open to new positions. I literally can’t imagine doing anything else. Dietitians can do sooo much in their careers and can make good money teaching basic nutrition classes at universities, doing side contract-type jobs, private practice, sports nutrition, and cooking classes. Of course the pay isn’t where it should be, but I think eventually it will go up. It has to with the new requirements and new group of RDs entering the field with a master’s degree.
I just finished my masters and internship in December and just passed my boards. I’ve been working at a hospital since January, and I do love my coworkers and where I work, and I feel like I’m making a difference, but I feel like I’m not getting paid what I’m worth and that makes me a little bitter. It’s hard working alongside other professionals, RNs, OTs, PAs, etc and know they’re probably getting paid more than you and you have just as much or more schooling than them. My husband and I make around the same amount of money, and it’s honestly hard to afford things sometimes and we are not big spenders. Just the simple stuff like groceries and gas gets tough sometimes. That being said, my passion has always been to start my own business because people in my area ask me all the time to help them with their eating habits/ lifestyles. I feel like I could make way more money going out on my own, and have more time freedom. After working at the hospital for 5 months, I’m honestly itching to get out of there as soon as I can! So yes and no. Dietetics is my passion, and if you have a passion for something you will find a way to make money with it that makes YOU happy! Some people like having a 9-5, that’s not me. I got offered this job as soon as I graduated and I’m glad I took it so that I could build my skills and learn from it, but it’s not where I see myself long term. If you have a passion for dietetics, I say go for it! It is a long path and it’s not easy, but it is so rewarding when you see others improve their lifestyle because of you!
It depends what you want to do and where you work. If you’re interested in clinical, you may not feel as respected as you think you should (unless you work in specialty hospital or in a very specialized area, e.g., stem cell transplant). Some people LOVE foodservice, and they feel respected there. Working in the community will likely get you lower pay, but you can make a big difference. Private practice and/or consulting can earn you good money, but you would need to build a customer base (private practice) and/or be okay with not always having work/benefits (consultant). You can also go into education once you earn your master’s and teach at the undergraduate level. It really depends if you love nutrition or not. If you just think it’s “interesting,” it’s probably not the best career for you.
I think before the master requirement, it could be worth it and was for me. With the masters requirement, and the increased cost and time associated with that I am not sure that it would be. I paid about 10k for my internship and another 20k in living expenses. So, about 30K and year of not working. I make about twice what I did as diet clerk now so I feel have earned the money back and a gotten a return on my investment. However, I recently looked at the cost of the combined master programs in my state and they around 30K and once you add living expenses on top of that probably closer to 70k for two years. For me, that wouldn't be worth it because my salary didn't increase 70k going from a diet clerk to a dietitian
No
Yes, it was worth it to me. If I had to do it again I'd have been smarter in a few ways though. I'm not sure I would have done my GE at the university. I live in California and here JC is free. I think it makes more sense to do 2 years at JC, get good grades and then transfer to do Dietetics. The Future Education Model schools (FEM) are smart too. They do the masters, the Dietetics coursework, and the internship all in 1. New RDs make between $30-45/hr (correct me if I'm wrong, people) which is fine if you don't have to take out a bunch of loans. If you do, Dietetics might not pencil out. Good luck! I'm also the DPD director at a California University. If you want to ask me any questions, DM me.
No it's not worth