Educate. Promote healthy eating. Improve the lives of others. Be a part of the solution and help your community live healthier.

The online Master of Science in Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition concentration supplies the knowledge and credentials needed to work as a public health nutritionist.

  • What Does a Career as a or Public Health Nutritionist Look Like?
  • Public Health Nutritionist Salary and Forecast
  • What Education is Required to Work as a Public Health Nutritionist?
  • Public Health Nutritionist Job Opportunities

What Does a Career as a Public Health Nutritionist Look Like?

Public health nutritionists plan, direct or supervise food service or nutritional programs to promote or support health and control of disease. Public health nutritionists may supervise activities of a department providing food services, or may counsel individuals, advise on a corporate environment or conduct nutritional research.

Public health nutritionists contribute to decisions that affect groups of people. The regular responsibilities may involve the following:

  • Development of food and nutrition policy
  • Conduct community health assessment
  • Development of food and nutrition education interventions
  • Leadership of school nutrition programs
  • Evaluate nutrition programs for maternal and child health
  • Monitor impact of wellness programs on community health

Public Health Nutritionist Career Salary and Forecast

Professionals working in North Carolina as public health nutritionists earn a median salary of $55,164 (as of 2018).

The average salary in North Carolina for graduates of this program is $55,164 (as of 2018). This average salary is above the living wage for North Carolina

Job opportunities for North Carolina public health nutritionists are growing at a rate of 19.9% per year. This job growth rate is significantly higher than the national labor market average of 7.4%.
the number of people employed as Dieticians / Nutritionists is expected to grow in the next 10 years.

What Education is Required to Work as a Public Health Nutritionist?

All public health nutritionists must have a bachelor’s degree. A career as a public health nutritionist may involve overseeing large populations. Making decisions for larger groups of people requires a sufficient amount of educational training. For that reason, those looking to move up the ranks as a public health nutritionist may opt to earn a graduate degree.

All advertised education levels: Bachelor's Degree: 90.7% Master's Degree: 38.8% Doctoral Degree: 2.5%

Nutritionists who are interested in making a difference throughout the population can do so by pursuing a career in public health. This deals with communities and larger groups of people at times as public health nutritionists can influence decisions and policies that impact lots of lives.

Public Health Nutritionist Job Opportunities

Public health nutritionists can work in a number of settings. That could include hospitals, schools, local government, as well as for organizations that provide some type of food service or distribution. It is a well-rounded profession that requires well-versed nutritionists to recommend and institute change. Graduates of this degree program find careers working as the following:

  • Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent
  • Worksite Wellness Director
  • Public Health Nutritionist
  • Director of Food and Nutrition Services for School Systems
  • Nutrition Epidemiologist
  • Public Health Department Manager
  • WIC or SNAP Director
  • Outpatient Dietitian for RDs in community health program
  • Dietary Manager of corporate or nonprofit

Public health nutritionists are in demand. Explore job opportunities here.

Ready to Get Started?

Passionate about health? Want to be part of the food-as-medicine movement? Apply now to get the education required for a purposeful career as a public health nutritionist.

Apply Now

Data sourced from Burning Glass Program Insight and: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1031.00