Dietitian: Salary and conditions

• Range of typical starting salaries for a dietitian (band 5): £21,176 - £27,534 (salary data collected July 2010).
• Range of typical salaries at specialist level (band 6): £25,472 - £34,189 (salary data collected July 2010).
• Range of typical salaries at advanced level (band 7): £30,460 - £40,157 (salary data collected July 2010).
• There are on-call and special duty allowances for dietitians working in the National Health Service (see NHS Careers ). In London and the South East, a cost of living allowance is available.
• Under the Agenda for Change , a salary premium may be awarded in areas where there are recruitment and retention difficulties or to individual specialist posts.
• Salaries in industry are not necessarily higher than in the NHS.
• Working hours in the NHS are mainly nine to five. This may include some weekend work perhaps to attend a clinic. On-call work may also be required.
• Self-employment and freelance work are possible within the NHS and the sport and private health sectors, as well as in the food industry, in public relations companies and the media.
• Job-sharing, part-time work and opportunities for career breaks are readily available.
• Jobs are available in most areas with opportunities in towns and cities throughout the UK.
• Dietitians in the NHS are usually based in a hospital, health centre or clinic and will be given a private consultation room. Community dietitians may have to travel to various locations in the local area. Those involved in research may need to work in laboratories.
• Absence from home overnight and overseas travel is uncommon.