Dietitian Work Conditions

Dietitians and nutritionists held about 64,400 jobs in 2010.

As shown below, nearly one-third of dietitians and nutritionists worked in hospitals in 2010:

Hospitals; state, local, and private: 32%
Self-employed workers: 15%
Nursing care facilities: 8%
Outpatient care centers: 6%
Offices of physicians: 4%

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Dietitians and nutritionists work in hospitals, cafeterias, nursing homes, and schools. Some dietitians and nutritionists are self-employed and maintain their own practice. They work as consultants, providing advice to individual clients, or they work for healthcare establishments on a contract basis.

Most dietitians and nutritionists work full time, although about 20 percent work part time. Self-employed, consultant dietitians have more flexibility in setting their schedules.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition