Career Resources
Career Paths
In the following section, you will find a list of career paths for each of our degrees. The details include job title, salary range, hiring industries, job responsibilities, and career preparation steps.
Career Paths B.S. in Nutrition and Food Science
Nutrition and Dietetics
Registered Dietitian
- Salary range: $60,115-$72,568
- Who is Hiring: Healthcare Facilities, Food Industries, Government, and Academia & Research
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree with course work approved by the Academy’s Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Complete an accredited, supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency, or food service corporation.
- Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
- Complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration
- General Responsibilities: Assess and develop nutrition care plans, counsel clients, and provide patients with nutrition support
Certified Dietary Manager
- Salary range: $50,700-$78,300
- Who is Hiring: Healthcare; specifically senior living communities, Corporations, Correctional facilities, and School Districts
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in food service management or nutrition
- Graduate from an ANFP-approved dietary training program including 120 hours of didactic education plus 150 hours of field experience
- Complete the CDM Certification Exam and apply for certified status
- Maintain certification with continuing education courses
- General Responsibilities: Manage menus, food purchasing, and safe food preparation to meet Federal/State regulations
Nutrition and Fitness
Sports Nutritionist
- Salary range: $50,313-$60,736
- Who is Hiring: Fitness centers, Schools, Hospitals, Hotels/Resorts, and Corporations
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science with a concentration in nutrition and fitness
- Complete a dietetic internship and pass the national examination by CDR
- Complete Board Certification from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Earn ATC licensure
- General Responsibilities: Determine safe and effective programs to improve health by screening, assessment, and evaluation of clients’ need
Personal Trainer
- Salary range: $46,245-$78,747
- Who is Hiring: Healthcare, Fitness centers, Corporations, and Resorts
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science with a concentration in nutrition and fitness
- Complete a nationally recognized certification (NSCA, ACSM, ACE, HFS)
- General Responsibilities: Improve and maintain physical wellness
Nutritional Sciences
Medical/Dental/PA
- Salary range: $92,734-$202,226
- Who is Hiring: Hospitals, Clinics, Private Practice, and Academia & Research
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science with a concentration in nutritional sciences. Receive guidance from nutrition and pre-med advisors
- Gain healthcare experience in hospitals, clinics or other healthcare environments while earning your degree
- Medical: Take the Medical College Admissions Test, attend medical school, complete a residency program and fellowship, and obtain a state license
- Dental: Take the Dental Admission Test and attend a dental school
- PA: Attend an accredited PA program, pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam and obtain a state license
- General Responsibilities: Diagnose and treat injuries/illnesses; maintenance of physical wellness
Laboratory Clinician
- Salary range: $43,380-$67,424
- Who is Hiring: Hospitals, Academia & Research, and Public and Private Laboratories
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science with a concentration in nutritional sciences
- Gain experience in a clinical laboratory setting
- Meet licensure and certification requirements according to State regulations
- General Responsibilities: Analyze, compute, and conduct testing on food and beverages
Food Safety and Nutrition
Food Safety Inspector
- Salary range: $48,391-$64,308
- Who is Hiring: Government, Municipal Health Departments, Food Industries, and Restaurants
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science with a concentration in food safety and nutrition, food science or applied foods & environmental health
- Gain food inspection experience while earning your degree with a co-op program, government agency, or internship
- Earn a certification through state offices
- Earn a Certified Professional-Food Safety certification, available through the National Environmental Health Association
- General Responsibilities: Monitor food distributors, processors, and manufacturers using safety and sanitary regulations
Food Industry Research and Development
- Salary range: $65,890-$85,600
- Who is Hiring: Food/Beverage Processors, Food Ingredient Suppliers, and Educational Institutions
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in food science/food safety
- Consider a graduate program in food safety
- Gain 2-5 years work experience in quality and food safety (internships help with this requirement)
- Gain training and certification in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points
- General Responsibilities: Develop and test new products, conduct sensory evaluation, and evaluate consumer acceptance
Career Paths B.S. in Hospitality Management
Food and Beverage
Chef
- Salary range: $41,213-$63,162
- Who is Hiring: Food Industries, Hospitals, Schools, Resorts, and Private sector
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in food safety/food science
- Work as an apprentice through a culinary school or association
- Obtain certification through the American Culinary Federation
- General Responsibilities: Oversee daily food prep, direct kitchen staff, and handle all food related concerns
Hotels, Resorts, Catering, and Events
Entry-level Supervisory and Managerial Positions
- General, Sales/Marketing
- Salary range: $90,060-$132,240
- Who is Hiring: Hotels and Resorts
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in food safety/food science
- Gain experience in the hotel industry while earning your degree
- General Responsibilities: Responsible for day-to-day operations; planning, organizing, and directing hotel services
Hospitality Management Job Board
For exciting internship and job opportunities, visit our job board.
Career Paths B.S. Fermentation Science and Technology
Food
Fermentation Scientist
- Salary range: $72,374-$108,324
- Who is Hiring: Food, Agricultural, and Healthcare Industries
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Fermentation Science and Technology
- Gain work experience in a lab while earning your degree
- General Responsibilities: Develop healthy, safe, and palatable food products and research new food sources
Beverage
Head Brewer
- Salary range: $36,905-$60,654
- Who is Hiring: Food, Agricultural, and Healthcare Industries
- Preparation:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Fermentation Science and Technology
- Gain work experience in a lab and/or the food industry while earning your degree
- General Responsibilities: Assist with procurement of raw materials and other inventory as it relates to brewing process, monitor all processes, develop innovative approaches and ideas
Fermentation Science Job Board
For exciting internship and job opportunities, visit our job board.
Career Paths M.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition
Human Nutrition, Food Science, Nutrition and Exercise, and Functional Foods
Academics
Our program prepares graduates to pursue a doctoral degree in nutrition or a related discipline.
Industry
Our program prepares graduates for a wide range of career opportunities in the Food Industry. Many are employed in areas of product development, research, quality assurance, food safety, food biotechnology, marketing, or public relations.
Dietetics
Clinical
Opportunities include work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, HMO’s, or other health care facilities. Typical in this setting, job responsibilities include patient nutrition education and/or medical nutrition therapy as part of a health care team. Specialties can include diabetes, eating disorders, cancer, pediatrics, and cardiac rehabilitation.
Community and Public Health
Community and Public Health opportunities allow RD’s to teach, monitor, and advise the public on quality of life through healthy eating habits. Specialties can include working with families, children, the elderly, and pregnant women.
Consulting-Private Practice
Consulting-Private Practice opportunities allow RD’s to work under contract with heath care, food companies, or in their own business. Specialties can include restaurants, food vendors, athletes, nursing homes, companies, or individual counseling.
Nutrition Business Industry
Nutrition Business Industry opportunities include supermarkets, food and nutrition marketing, and product development.
Career Paths Ph.D. in Food Science and Human Nutrition
Food Science and Human Nutrition
University
The goal of graduate education is to prepare students for outstanding scholarly and professional achievement by educating them in the skills of a discipline and in the intellectual and ethical foundations of research, instilling in each student the capacity for independent critical judgment, and inspiring students to use their knowledge and training for the betterment of society. Our graduates are prepared to become university faculty and/or research specialists.
Industry
The goal of graduate education is to prepare students for outstanding scholarly and professional achievement by educating them in the skills of a discipline and in the intellectual and ethical foundations of research, instilling in each student the capacity for independent critical judgment, and inspiring students to use their knowledge and training for the betterment of society. Our graduates are prepared for positions in research and development, product development, consultants, marketing, science policy, and science writing. http://phdsatwork.com/