If you’re passionate about nutrition and driven to help others lead healthier lives, there are no limits to the jobs you can pursue or the career paths you can embark upon.

Major companies are realizing the importance of proper nutrition among their employees, and more and more corporations are hiring nutrition educators, wellness coaches and health promotion professionals to help promote healthy lifestyles. Large food companies also rely on nutrition professionals to educate consumers about their products and help develop recipes that are healthy and delicious.

Nutritionists are Valuable in the Corporate Workplace

The United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics sees a very positive outlook for food and nutrition departments in the coming years. According to the BLS, employment of dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. The BLS also reports that the median annual wage for the highest 10 percent of dietitians and nutritionists in the United States is more than $80,000.

The rising demand for nutrition professionals in the corporate arena is partially due to the Affordable Care Act, specifically those provisions which promote workplace wellness programs. A 2012 RAND Corporation study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that 92 percent of employers with 200 or more employees reported offering wellness programs in 2009. Nutritionists and wellness coaches are often critical to the successful design and implementation of such programs.

Corporations also recognize the financial benefits of implementing wellness programs and are willing to pay top-dollar for nutrition and health promotion professionals who can help implement such programs. According to a comprehensive analysis of 42 published studies of worksite health promotion programs by the Institute for Health Care Consumerism (IHCC), companies that implemented such programs realized significant cost reductions, including:

• An average of 28 percent reduction in sick days
• An average of 26 percent reduction in health costs
• An average of 30 percent reduction in workers’ compensation and disability management claims

Where Do Corporate Nutritionists Work?

Corporate nutritionists and health coaches are employed by companies all around the world to spread wellness to consumers and employees alike. Kaiser Permanente, for example, provides its 175,000+ employees with healthy recipes and offers more than 50 in-house farmer’s markets across its facilities. Whole Food Market offers free, week-long Total Health Immersion programs to its employees. And software giant SAS provides its workers with physical therapy, psychology services, and nutrition assistance, among other health and wellness offerings.

The point being this: Big companies who are invested in employee health and wellness implement all sorts of programs and offer all kinds of perks that require the knowledge and skills of nutrition professionals. Search any jobsite like Indeed and Monster for “corporate nutritionist” or “corporate health coach” and you’ll discover hundreds of opportunities across the country for someone with your level of experience, education, and passion for health and wellness.

If you have the experience and the passion but feel you could benefit from more advanced education to be a candidate for the top corporate jobs in nutrition and wellness, you may be interested in the online Master of Science in Nutrition Education from American University.

Request more information on the online Master of Science in Nutrition Education or call 855-725-7614 to speak with an admissions adviser today.