You're a nutrition professor in a college or health sciences school — teaching, supervising student practice, and contributing to scholarship in nutrition science. Half academic faculty, half practicing or recently practicing dietitian or nutrition scientist.
Most days tend to involve a blend of classroom teaching, supervised practice oversight, and scholarly work — leading lectures and case discussions, supervising students in clinical or community placements, and contributing to research or curriculum development. You'll often spend part of the time on academic citizenship — committee work, accreditation, and program development.
The harder part is often balancing the multiple demands of teaching, scholarship, and program work, and the long arc of nutrition science where evidence keeps evolving. You'll typically work across cohorts with varied science preparation, while keeping content current.
People who tend to thrive here are scientifically grounded, patient teachers, and willing to invest in academic scholarship. The trade-off is the academic salary reality and the cumulative work of teaching, scholarship, and service. If you find satisfaction in shaping practitioners and contributing to nutrition knowledge, the work can carry quiet, durable impact.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
You're a nutrition professor in a college or health sciences school — teaching, supervising student practice, and contributing to scholarship in nutrition science. Half academic faculty, half practicing or recently practicing dietitian or nutrition scientist.
Median pay for a Nutrition Professor is about $106K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $52K to $208K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Instructing, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, and Writing.
Most people in this role hold a master's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 17.3% through 2034, with roughly 229,720 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Health Teacher, First Aid Teacher, and Clinical Instructor.
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