The Demand for Nutrition Professionals Is Growing
As health care shifts its focus to disease prevention and wellness, diet has become a topic of national concern. What we eat can have a major impact on our present and future health, yet many individuals may not know specifically what constitutes a healthy diet. In addition, different individuals have different dietary needs. Dietitians, nutritionists, and other nutrition and wellness professionals are needed to provide nutrition plans, programs and advice based on current scientific research. The online M.S. in Nutrition and Wellness provides you with the scientific foundation that will enhance your clinical, applied and research skills.
Dietitians and Nutritionists
These professionals need to have a strong understanding of the science and research related to food, nutrition, and metabolism to properly assess clients’ eating habits and design nutrition plans that will help them meet their goals. Job growth for dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 11% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, due in part to greater awareness of diet’s impact on health and its role in treating illnesses.1
Those with advanced degrees will have an edge in the job market and may also enjoy better job prospects. Job settings may include:
- Government agencies
- Outpatient care centers
- Nursing and residential care facilities
In 2021, the average salary for dieticians and nutritionists was $61,650.1
Fitness is an important aspect of wellness, and exercise physiologists needs to know how nutrition impacts fitness and the metabolization of food as they design programs to help clients recover from injury or manage fitness, or simply help them achieve better health.
Job growth in this field is expected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. However, competition for jobs can be high. A Master of Science in Nutrition and Wellness can help distinguish you from other candidates and present evidence of a science background.
Many exercise physiologists are self-employed, but positions can be found in hospitals and other health care facilities. The average salary in 2021 was $47,940.2
Biochemists study biological processes, including the processes involved in nutrient absorption and metabolism. As the general population becomes increasingly aware of the scientific basis for nutrition, health and wellness, biochemists may be called on to do more research in this field, which may eventually be applied to clinical treatments and plans, health products and food engineering. The M.S. in Nutrition and Wellness can provide a detailed background in these processes for biochemists who are interested in studying this area in depth or serve as a stepping stone to an eventual Ph.D. for those who are interesting in pursuing a career in biochemistry.
Employment for biochemists is expected to grow 5% from 2020 to 2030, as fast as the average for all occupations. Research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural companies and health care providers may employ biochemists. The average annual salary for biochemists in 2021 was $102,270.3
To learn how Benedictine University can help you prepare for an advanced career in nutrition and wellness, call us at (866) 295-3104 or request more information here.
1U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020 Sept. 1). Dieticians and Nutritionists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Dec. 7, 2020, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm.
2U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020 Sept. 1). Exercise Physiologists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Dec. 7, 2020, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/exercise-physiologists.htm.
3U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020 Sept. 1). Biochemists and Biophysicists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Dec. 7, 2020, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/biochemists-and-biophysicists.htm.