How to become a dietician or nutritionist

Official title: Dieticians and nutritionists

Also called: Clinical dietician, Food service dietician, Nutritionist, Public health nutritionist, Sports nutritionist

Dieticians and nutritionists assess, plan and implement programmes to enhance the impact of food and nutrition on human health.

Main tasks

• Instructing individuals, families and communities on nutrition, the planning of diets and preparation of food to maximize health benefits and reduce potential risks to health
• Planning diets and menus, supervising the preparation and serving of meals, and monitoring food intake and quality to provide nutritional care in settings offering food services
• Compiling and assessing data relating to health and nutritional status of individuals, groups and communities based on nutritional values of food served or consumed
• Planning and conducting nutrition assessments, intervention programmes, and education and training to improve nutritional levels among individuals and communities
• Consulting with other health professionals and care providers to manage the dietary and nutritional needs of patients
• Developing and evaluating food and nutrition products to meet nutritional requirements
• Conducting research on nutrition and disseminating the findings at scientific conferences and in other settings

Ways in

• University: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 11 universities in Hong Kong

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: HK$48,000 a month
• About 1,542,900 people in 2025, and about 1,639,100 projected by 2028. (+6.2%)
• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a dietician or nutritionist?

Ways in include: Health & Public Health degrees.

Do you need a degree to become a dietician or nutritionist?

Usually. 88% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a dietician or nutritionist?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026