Is being a consultant dietitian worth it? Here’s what to know:

Working as a consultant dietitian is an opportunity for the best of both worlds, it means perks and flexibility while still offering a stable paycheck, and sometimes even includes benefits such as health insurance and 401(k).

But let’s address the elephant in the room, too. Working as a consultant dietitian can seem like an intimidating leap to make if you’re not exactly sure what it could look like. So today, let’s explore the world of consultant work for dietitians, and all the possibilities it holds.  

In this blog:

What is a consultant dietitian and what settings do they work in? 

Before diving into the benefits of consultant work, let’s take a look at what exactly that job title means. A consultant dietitian is a dietitian who provides nutrition services on a contractual basis. This contract can last anywhere from one week to six months, and sometimes even for years at a time.

Consultant dietitians usually work independently or as a part of a consulting firm (enter: Dietitians On Demand) offering their expertise in settings such as acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, dialysis centers, community health centers and clinics, physician practice groups, schools, grocery stores, online and anywhere else you may find a dietitian. 

Why should I become a consultant dietitian? 

The best synonym for consultant work is flexibility! Being a consultant dietitian means you’re an employee of the consultant company only for the duration of your assignment. This makes it incredibly easy to fit in vacations, time at home with family, appointments, part-time jobs and other side hustles. Consultant dietitians can work a full-time contract for a short time frame, or an ongoing PRN position to supplement hours with your other jobs or commitments.  

Consultant work comes with big professional benefits, too. By taking on different contracts, dietitians not only strengthen their clinical skills but also connect with a wide variety of other dietitians and clinicians, making it one of the best ways to grow your network. 

How consultant work benefits a dietitian’s career

Through a variety of assignments, a consultant dietitian is exposed to colleagues with different specialties, years of experience and unique perspectives. While all of this strengthens a dietitian’s practice, it benefits the facility hiring them, too. Bringing in a consultant dietitian who can quickly adapt to new EMRs, policies, formularies, and patient populations is an incredible advantage. Truly a win-win. 

FROM THE AUTHOR: Working as a consultant dietitian for a few years has allowed me to learn more about trauma, inpatient rehab, improve my NFPE skills and ultimately led to the experience and confidence to become a CNSC. The variety of consultant work truly does create an environment conducive to growth, confidence and ongoing education as a clinician. 

One of the best parts of dietetics is that there are so many different settings in which to practice. Consultant work allows you to explore these different areas. This could look like a part-time position at a hospital and additional hours with a contract at a nursing home. This diversifies a dietitian’s day-to-day while also building a stronger resume in the long term and keeping skills sharp across several different areas. 

How much does a consultant dietitian make? 

Outside of the professional benefits, consultant work typically has a higher pay rate, especially when compared to permanent positions. Consultants come in to assist the company in a time of need, whether to fill a position for maternity leave, FMLA, a vacancy, or due to a spike in census. They’re available quickly and understand the assignment may end just as quickly.

Consultant dietitians are rewarded for their flexibility with a higher pay rate, which makes consultant work just that much more appealing.  

Consultant dietitian pay data:

• ZipRecruiter: $37 per hour
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: $44.90 per hour
• Dietitians On Demand: $49 to $54 per hour

What does a consultant dietitian do? 

Consultant work can easily be compared to the dietetic internship experience. During the internship, dietitians work in a variety of settings for a short period of time, usually somewhere between 2 to 8 weeks. Consultant work can feel very similar to this, except now you have the ability to choose which contracts/rotations are right for you and build your own schedule. Instead of working with a dietetic internship director, you’re working with a recruiter from a consultant company.

How to become a consultant dietitian 

Finding work as a consultant dietitian can look similar to any other dietitian job search. Search, apply, interview, onboard, start work. The biggest difference is where the search takes place online, and how often.

There are several companies that exist whose primary focus is hiring healthcare workers for consultant positions, either locally or travel. These companies will have a job board to view their current openings, and their job openings may not always show up on traditional job boards like Indeed or ZipRecruiter. The best option is an online search for ‘consultant dietitian jobs’ to see all the options and companies that await.  

FROM THE AUTHOR: I can’t express enough how important it is to get your information in front of recruiters with consultant companies. Whether you apply to an opening on their job board or you directly contact someone within the company. Either way, you’re letting them know who you are and what qualifications you bring to the table. If you apply and sign on for the first job you’re interested in – amazing. If not, now the recruiter knows more about you and can reach out with targeted job openings that you may want to pursue. 

To recap, remember these tips to find a consultant dietitian job faster:

• Apply to a variety of job postings often
• Accept invitations for screening calls with recruiters (they’re your friends!)
• Engage in casual conversations
• Ask about a recruiter’s deep knowledge of the dietetic industry

What does an interview look like for a consultant dietitian? 

Typically, once a candidate applies for an opening, a recruiter will set up a call to discuss the details of the position. Think of this like a brief phone interview, often called a pre-screen. A recruiter may ask: 

• Why are you looking for consultant work? 

• How long have you been a dietitian? 

• Tell me about your previous work or internship experience. 

• What is your ideal start date? 

• Do you have any anticipated days off we should plan around? 

• What is your preferred hourly rate? 

Thinking through these questions ahead of time can help you be prepared and ready to go. It’s also a good idea to have questions ready for the recruiter. As a consultant dietitian, the questions may differ from what you’d ask for a long-term role. Consider these questions: 

• How many dietitians are currently on-site? 

• What is the patient load? 

• Is orientation/training offered? 

At the end of this initial call, if the recruiter feels you would be a good fit for the position and you’re interested in moving forward, they submit your information to the client (i.e. their contact at the hospital, long-term care facility, etc.). Once the recruiter hears back from the client, they may request an interview directly with you, have some additional questions or, they may say yes on the spot.  

The recruiter will officially offer the assignment, and then it’s time for the onboarding details, including paperwork, background checks, state licensure, travel budget and logistics, and confirming your start date. With a staffing company, all of this information is coordinated through the onboarding team upon signing the contract. This helps make the process easy and smooth. 

Is it realistic to pair work as a consultant dietitian with other gigs? 

The short answer? Absolutely!  

Consultant work is flexible enough to fit whatever you’re looking for. It could be a short-term contract to explore clinical work, a way to stay sharp with your skills, an opportunity to earn extra income, or simply a meaningful way to fill your free time. Whether it’s full-time for a few months, part-time, or ongoing PRN work, there are usually opportunities that match every schedule and goal. 

So, what would this actually look like? Let’s check out a few examples:  

• Dietitian A currently works in real estate and has a flexible schedule that she loves, but she also wants to keep your clinical skills sharp. To do this, she accepts a part-time position at a local nursing home for 16 hours/week. And there you have it, the best of both worlds!  

• Dietitian B is in the beginning days of building a private practice and is looking to fill in some hours/find additional income. To do this, he accepts a part-time position with a local hospital looking for 24 hours/week of coverage. Boom, the best of both worlds!

• Dietitian C is a new mom who’s ready to get back into dietetics, but wants to do a test run before fully committing a role. To do this, she accepts a full-time, 3-month contract at a local hospital. (She reads this blog about getting back into clinical work, and uses these resources to brush up on her clinical skills before she starts.) She gets the best of both worlds!

• Dietitian D caught the travel bug and wants to try out travel work while seeing the country (or world!). To do this, she accepts a full-time, 3-month contract in Arizona. Afterwards, she enjoys an extended leave and explores Patagonia and Brazil. While she’s finishing up her last couple weeks in Brazil, the recruiter from her Arizona travel gig reaches out about a new 2-month travel assignment in Florida. Before she’s even returned home, she’s signed on for her next assignment, with enough time to see family for a week before heading for Florida. Sounds too good to be true? This is a TRUE story from a travel dietitian!

• Dietitian E is a new dietitian looking for his first role. He accepts a contract job at a local facility for an initial period of 3 months to cover a vacancy. At the end of the contract, the facility offers to convert him to a permanent, full-time employee. He had time to try out the role and now makes a very educated decision to accept the permanent offer, the ideal temp-to-perm opportunity, and the best of both worlds!

There are hundreds of different paths consultant dietitian work can lead a dietitian down when they approach their next contract with a mindset of, “What can I do next? I can do anything!” Where could it take you?

Are there any downsides to being a consultant dietitian?  

Consultant work, as discussed above, is work on a contract basis. That said, it isn’t a permanent position. You are an employee of the staffing company for the duration of the contract. It does come with a bit of uncertainty and lack of security when compared to a permanent hire position. And in exchange for that uncertainty, being a consultant dietitian also comes with the freedom and flexibility to make your schedule and work-life balance your own, while also earning a higher hourly rate when compared to perm hire positions.  

FROM THE AUTHOR: As a consultant dietitian, I would say one of the most important considerations before pursuing consultant work is knowing your skillset. Training and orientation look different at every facility, which may mean you’re needed to show up and get straight to work with minimal training. Some consultant dietitian companies have great resources to ensure you’re ready to go on day one, however, it is crucial to know your own ability, competencies and resources access in the setting(s) you pursue for consultant work.  

Summary: Consultant dietitian work is what you make it 

Working as a consultant dietitian is an opportunity to grow as a clinician and have variety in your work week. It is a great way to connect with other dietitians, stay sharp on your clinical skills and make some additional income. The best part? It truly is what you make it and can fit into your life and career in a way that works for you. 

Ready to get started as a consultant dietitian? Browse the Dietitians On Demand job board, search online for “contract dietitians job,” or sign up for job alerts. And here a final pro tip, ask ChatGPT to find you a job! Try customizing this prompt: Find consultant dietitian jobs for 30 hours per week in [location].

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Dietitians On Demand is a nationwide staffing and recruiting company for registered dietitians, specializing in short-term, temporary, and permanent-hire positions in acute care, long-term care, and food service. We’re dedicated to dietitians and helping them enhance their practice and excel in the workplace. Check out our job openings, request your coverage, or visit our store today!

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References

Dietitians On Demand. (2024). 2024 Compensation Report. Internal company document.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2024). 2024 Compensation and Benefits Survey. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.