A nutritionist in Chile earns between CLP 900,000 and CLP 1.4 million gross a month four years after graduating, depending on the institution, according to the Employability and Income Search Tool of Mi Futuro. The highest incomes, in the CLP 1.3 to 1.4 million bracket, go to graduates of the Pontifical Catholic University, the University of Chile and Finis Terrae University.
Nutrition and Dietetics also has one of the lowest employability rates among health careers: on average, only 45.2% of graduates earn above the minimum wage in their first year. In the public sector, nutritionists in health services are paid on the professional scale of the Administrative Statute. This guide gathers the figures.
How much a nutritionist earns in Chile by university
| Gross income bracket, 4th year | Institutions | How many |
|---|---|---|
| CLP 1.3 to 1.4 million | Pontifical Catholic U. of Chile, U. of Chile, Finis Terrae U. | 3 |
| CLP 1.2 to 1.3 million | U. of Antofagasta, U. of Valparaíso, Mayor U. | 3 |
| CLP 1.1 to 1.2 million | Andrés Bello U., Catholic U. of Maule, U. of La Frontera, U. of Talca, U. of Tarapacá, U. del Desarrollo, Santo Tomás U. | 7 |
| CLP 1 to 1.1 million | Autonomous U., U. of Concepción, U. of Las Américas, U. of Playa Ancha, U. of Viña del Mar, U. of Bío-Bío, San Sebastián U., Inacap | 8 |
| CLP 900,000 to 1 million | IP de Chile | 1 |
| n/a | Bernardo O'Higgins U., Catholic U. of the Most Holy Conception, Catholic U. of Temuco, Catholic U. of the North, U. of los Andes, U. of Los Lagos | 6 |
Source: Mi Futuro, Nutrition and Dietetics program (28 programs, 22 with income data), retrieved November 4, 2026. According to the search tool's methodology, income is the average gross monthly income of 2018, 2019 and 2020 graduates in their fourth year after graduating, calculated with data from Chile's tax agency (SII) and expressed in September 2025 pesos. Employability is the share of graduates earning at least the minimum wage in their first or second year. Programs with few cases appear as "no information" (n/a).
The average floor of the 22 brackets with data is CLP 1.10 million. Most institutions, 15 of 22, fall between CLP 1 and 1.2 million.
How much a nutritionist earns in Chile's public sector
Nutritionists in hospitals and health services belong to the professional staff under the Administrative Statute (Law 18,834), like nurses and midwives. Their pay depends on the grade assigned to the position:
| Grade | Base salary | Total gross monthly pay (0 seniority bonuses) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | CLP 822,491 | CLP 3,522,228 |
| 7 | CLP 715,163 | CLP 3,039,924 |
| 9 | CLP 613,027 | CLP 2,544,278 |
| 11 | CLP 525,644 | CLP 2,144,971 |
| 13 | CLP 450,639 | CLP 1,795,022 |
| 15 | CLP 386,316 | CLP 1,512,586 |
| 17 | CLP 331,147 | CLP 1,275,277 |
Source: Law 18,834 pay table for professional positions of the Health Ministry's Undersecretariat of Care Networks, in force since June 2026 with the 1.4% adjustment of Law 21,806 (published by Hospital Carlos van Buren). Amounts for staff in private pension funds (AFP); total pay adds the base salary, professional allowance, substitute allowance and other legal components.
On top of these amounts come seniority bonuses, a zone allowance in remote regions, performance bonuses and, in positions with shift work, additional allowances. Municipal primary care (Cesfam) follows a different statute, Law 19,378, with career ladders set by each municipality, so there is no single scale.
Employability of nutritionists in Chile
| Indicator (Nutrition and Dietetics) | Range across institutions | Simple average |
|---|---|---|
| Employability, 1st year | 31.0% (Catholic U. of Temuco) to 64.1% (U. of Chile) | 45.2% |
| Employability, 2nd year | 48.4% to 78.5% | 62.0% |
| Actual length of the program | 11.1 to 14.2 semesters | 12.3 semesters |
| First-year retention | 64.1% to 94.4% | 80.4% |
Source: Mi Futuro, simple averages calculated by Vivarae News. Fewer than half of nutritionists earn above the minimum wage in their first year, rising to six in ten in the second. There are more graduates than jobs with a professional salary in the first period after graduating.
Nutritionists compared with other health careers
| Program | Average bracket floor, 4th-year income | Average 1st-year employability |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | CLP 1.76 million | 79.3% |
| Obstetrics | CLP 1.62 million | 73.1% |
| Physical Therapy | CLP 1.33 million | 53.1% |
| Occupational Therapy | CLP 1.19 million | 49.8% |
| Nutrition and Dietetics | CLP 1.10 million | 45.2% |
| Speech Therapy | CLP 1.02 million | 42.8% |
Source: Mi Futuro, retrieved November 4, 2026; simple averages calculated by Vivarae News. Nutrition sits near the bottom of health careers, alongside Speech Therapy. To compare, see how much a midwife earns, how much a nurse earns and how much a pharmacist earns in Chile. The minimum wage has been CLP 553,553 since May 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nutritionist earn in Chile?
Between CLP 900,000 and 1.4 million gross a month four years after graduating, depending on the institution, according to Mi Futuro. The average bracket floor is CLP 1.10 million.
How much does a nutritionist earn in a public hospital?
Between CLP 1,275,277 (grade 17) and CLP 3,522,228 (grade 5) gross a month without seniority bonuses, according to the Health Ministry professional scale in force since June 2026.
How much does a newly graduated nutritionist earn?
There is no official first-year figure. Mi Futuro shows that, on average, 45.2% of graduates earn above the minimum wage in their first year.
Where should you study Nutrition to earn more?
Graduates of the Catholic University, the University of Chile and Finis Terrae are in the top bracket, CLP 1.3 to 1.4 million in the fourth year, according to Mi Futuro.
