What can you do with a Nutrition degree

Whether you want to work in healthcare, research, public health or the food industry, a Nutrition degree can give you a strong foundation to pursue a career that supports individual and community wellbeing.

You’ll graduate equipped with the knowledge and skills to work across various sectors, from clinical and community roles to research, consultancy and food innovation.

Let’s explore the growing opportunities within the field, the demand for Nutritionists in Australia, and how your qualifications can shape your career direction.

Nutrition industry outlook

As awareness of healthy lifestyles continues to grow, the demand for qualified nutrition professionals is expected to rise. In Australia, there is a growing focus on preventative healthcare, and nutrition plays a crucial role in combating chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular conditions.

The employment outlook for Nutritionists and Dietitians is strong with consistent job growth projected over the next 5 years. There is particular demand for roles in community health services, aged care, hospitals, wellness centres and non-profit organisations.

Nutritionists are in high demand since they work in various industries. According to Randstad, the projected job growth rate for nutritionists is 7.2% by 2030 and the demand for personalised nutrition products and services is expected to reach $550 million by 2030.

Employers for jobs involving nutrition include:

• Public and private hospitals
• Local councils and government health departments
• Aged care and disability services
• Non-government and not-for-profit organisations
• Food manufacturers
• Sports clubs and fitness centres
• Schools, universities and research institutions

What job opportunities are there in nutrition?

While most people associate a Nutrition degree with becoming a Nutritionist, the field extends far beyond that. A Nutrition degree provides you with knowledge in human biology, food science, behaviour change and public health, which can be applied in a wide range of professions.

Whether you want to provide 1-on-1 guidance, develop food products, conduct cutting-edge research or create community health programs, there are many nutrition occupations.

Senior roles such as Research Leads, Clinical Nutrition Managers or Nutrition-focused Academics tend to offer the highest salaries. Salaries may also be higher in the corporate sector or in consulting roles where professionals build their own client base.

The following roles highlight the breadth of roles available to you when you study Nutrition.

Nutritionist

Nutritionists work with individuals or communities to support better health through dietary advice, education, and lifestyle modification. In this role, you could be assessing nutritional needs, developing tailored eating plans, delivering workshops or working in food policy and health promotion.

In some settings, Nutritionists may collaborate with other healthcare providers to address complex health issues, deliver community-wide programs, or support public health campaigns. This type of work contributes to the prevention of chronic diseases and the promotion of healthy lifestyles across different population groups.

Average salary: $80,000 to $90,000 per year

Qualifications: Bachelor of Nutrition or Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Nutrition)

Clinical Nutritionist

Clinical Nutritionists typically work in a healthcare setting and specialise in assessing and managing nutritional issues related to specific medical conditions. A Clinical Nutritionist will collaborate with doctors and other health professionals to improve patient outcomes through diet and supplement protocols.

They can be working with patients who are managing gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic conditions, allergies or autoimmune diseases. Clinical Nutritionists also develop individualised nutrition care plans and provide evidence-based strategies to help patients recover or manage symptoms more effectively.

Average salary: $80,000 to $90,000 per year

Qualifications: Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Nutrition) — registration with a recognised association (e.g. AARPN, NSA)

Nutrition Assistant

Nutrition Assistants support Nutritionists and Dietitians in clinical and community settings. The duties could include preparing educational materials, gathering dietary data, assisting with food service operations, and helping clients implement basic nutrition guidance.

Nutrition Assistants may work in schools, aged care facilities or on public health campaigns ensuring consistent nutritional messaging and support. This role provides an excellent foundation if you’re looking to gain practical experience before pursuing further study or stepping into more advanced roles.

Average salary: Around $55,000 per year

Qualifications: Diploma of Nutrition

Nutrition Researcher

Nutrition Researchers work in academic, government or private sectors, investigating the relationship between diet, health and disease. A researcher will design and conduct studies, analyse data, publish findings and may influence public policy or dietary guidelines.

This role involves staying up to date with the latest scientific discoveries and can also include reviewing existing studies, writing research papers or presenting findings at industry conferences. Nutrition researchers could be involved in establishing nutritional guidelines that impact food labelling laws, national dietary recommendations and future healthcare protocols.

Average salary: $65,000 to $111,000 per year

Qualifications: Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Nutrition) — honours or postgraduate research degrees may be required

Nutrition Consultant

Nutrition Consultants offer tailored advice to individuals, businesses, or organisations. This can include private practice consultations, corporate wellness programs, menu planning or advising on nutrition for food brands and marketing campaigns.

There will be opportunities to work with schools or community programs to promote health or appear in the media, or writing articles to share expert insights. This role provides a high degree of flexibility, especially if you have an entrepreneurial spirit and prefer freelance or self-employed arrangements.

Average salary: $69,000 to $117,000 per year

Qualifications: Bachelor of Nutrition

Recipe Developer

Recipe developers create healthy and innovative recipes for cookbooks, food brands, blogs, magazines or meal delivery services. It combines nutritional knowledge with culinary creativity to produce dishes that are both nutritious and appealing.

To succeed in this role, you need to have an understanding of food trends, dietary requirements and how to balance flavour with function. You may have opportunities to collaborate with chefs, content creators or food scientists to ensure products meet both health standards and consumer expectations.

Average salary: $56,000 to $69,000 per year

Qualifications: Bachelor of Nutrition — culinary training or food science credentials may be beneficial

Whether you’re just starting out or preparing to graduate, a nutrition course offers diverse pathways in health, science, food and community care. With a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, you'll be well-positioned to enter this field that truly makes a difference.