Health & Medicine
Dietitian
You use food and nutrition to keep people healthy and treat illness.
- Starting salary
- R22 000 – R33 000
- Job demand
- Growing fast
- Key subjects
- Mathematics, Physical Sciences
What do they do?
You use food and nutrition to keep people healthy and treat illness.
A day in the life
You assess patients' diets, build eating plans and run community nutrition programmes.
Skills you need
- Science
- Counselling
- Practical advice
- Empathy
School subjects that help
- Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Consumer Studies
How long does it take?
3 main steps after school, usually 3–6 years of study, plus practical experience.
Study path
- 1High school
- 2BSc Dietetics
- 3Community service
- 4Registered dietitian
Ways in: University degree · Professional registration (HPCSA). University is not the only route.
Where can I study?
- University of Pretoria
- Stellenbosch University
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
- North-West University
- University of the Western Cape
- University of the Free State
Admission requirements differ by institution, always check the official website.
What can I earn?
Entry level
R22 000 – R33 000
per month (estimate)
Mid career
R35 000 – R55 000
per month (estimate)
Experienced / senior
R58 000 – R90 000+
per month (estimate)
Estimated salary ranges only. Salaries vary based on experience, qualification, industry, location and employer.
How to start preparing now
- • Learn what a balanced plate looks like
- • Plan a week of cheap healthy meals
- • Volunteer at a feeding scheme
Try this career
Plan a healthy week of meals for a family on a R700 budget.
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This tool is designed to help you explore career possibilities. It does not replace professional career counselling, school guidance or official university admission requirements.