This two-year program allows you to acquire in-depth knowledge in nutrition and health. The BTS in dietetics thus leads to many career opportunities, across different sectors, both public and private.
Whether you are a recent graduate, a healthcare professional, or seeking information as part of a career change, you will find in this article the different perspectives available to you once you have your BTS in dietetics.
I encourage you to take advantage of the optional internship during your BTS in dietetics to find your path. If you have doubts, don’t hesitate to contact dietitians working in these various sectors to get a clearer idea.
As a dietitian and trainer, I have identified the 6 possible career paths after your BTS in dietetics, to help you know which job suits you best, understand each work setting, and the potential salaries.
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Hospital dietitian
In a hospital setting, the dietitian plays an essential role, working hand in hand with the healthcare staff.
She ensures patients’ nutrition is balanced by adjusting dietary regimens according to their specific needs (salt-free, post-operative diet…).
The hospital dietitian also plays an educational role. Nutrition education is at the heart of her tasks to prepare the patient’s return home, for example by developing a discharge diet.
She can initiate educational and prevention programs for hospital staff, workshops for patients, in a more or less autonomous way depending on the expectations of the responsible healthcare manager and the budget.
In addition to these responsibilities, the dietitian also manages the hospital’s collective catering: compliance with hygiene standards, supervision of meal trays and stock management.
Good to know: working as a dietitian in a hospital is relatively sought-after and rewarding. Positions are still limited, but hiring is done according to the needs of recent graduates or more experienced candidates.
Salary: hospital salaries start at around €1,900 gross, and can increase over the years and with seniority up to €3,500 gross.,
Private practice dietitian
More than 40% of dietitians choose to offer consultations, often in mixed practice.
Building a client base, or patient list, takes time. I recommend starting within a multi-disciplinary medical practice, alongside other healthcare professionals who can refer some patients.
Working as a private practice dietitian can offer great flexibility, while requiring fairly broad availability.
The reality is that there is increasing competition. Retaining patients for follow-up nutritional care is also not easy.
Another crucial point in private practice: continuing education to keep scientific knowledge up to date and, why not, to specialize over the years.
Welcoming patients in one’s own practice or via teleconsultations requires essential human qualities: listening, empathy and kindness.
Good to know: in my view, developing skills in administrative management, accounting and communication is essential to ensure the long-term viability of the practice.
Salary: it varies widely depending on part-time or full-time status, ranging from €1,000 to €3,000 gross on average in private practice.
Dietitian in institutional settings
Coordinating and organizing collective catering within various establishments, such as schools, company cafeterias or leisure centers, is also among the positions available with a BTS in dietetics.
The dietitian in collective settings is generally responsible for ensuring good hygiene practices and compliance with standards (HACCP method, food regulations…). She regularly trains catering staff on nutritional needs.
She creates balanced menus taking into account the budgetary and logistical constraints.
Good to know: interest in microbiology, management and rigor is essential for this career path.
Salary: in collective catering, one generally starts at around €1,800, with progression over the years up to €3,300 gross.
Dietitian in the food industry
The qualified dietitian can also work within the food industry, in close collaboration with R&D (Research and Development).
She thus contributes to food innovation, to the improvement of products and recipes, as well as to public health. She ensures an optimal nutritional quality of ingredients to meet consumers’ needs.
The advisory role and direct contact with patients from other professions give way to a closer relationship with the marketing and communications department. For example, you will have to create product sheets.
Depending on the company’s strategy, start-up or industrial, it may be involved in carrying out epidemiological studies.
Good to know: this sector offers dynamic and versatile positions, sometimes with pressure on profitability.
Salary : the salary for a dietitian in the agri-food industry ranges from €2,300 to €3,500 gross.
Teacher and trainer
The profession of dietitian can provide access to teaching and training. It’s an opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise with different audiences.
Becoming a teacher when you graduate with a BTS in dietetics involves preparing and delivering theoretical and/or practical courses. But also being comfortable speaking in public and having a certain pedagogical ability.
The dietetics teacher can also participate in grading BTS exam papers.
She can work in public or private schools, or train healthcare professionals and professionals in other private sectors.
Good to know : in the classroom or at conferences, you will need to commit to keeping up with scientific developments to update your materials.
Salary : Salaried or freelance, full-time or part-time, salaries for a nutrition teacher range between €1,000 and €3,500.
Communication, marketing and media
For many brands or specialized agencies, a dietitian’s nutrition expertise and knowledge of food are perceived as a real added value.
To promote products, the tasks are varied. Writing articles for print media or the web, e-books, creating content for social media, podcasts…
This opportunity is aimed at dietitians with a taste for these new communication channels and marketing. Ideally, pursue additional training in the field.
Good to know : to combine your scientific expertise and communication skills, I recommend registering as a self-employed professional.
Salary: expect a gross income between €1,500 and €4,000 depending on your expertise.
