Home Economist

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Work Tasks

HOME ECONOMISTS are found in many businesses advising on matters relating to food and products of the home. They work to improve the quality of individual and family life. Some are employed in human services, education, business, or research, and use their expertise in areas such as dietetics, home management, secondary teaching, fashion design, public relations, interior decorating, rehabilitative counseling, restaurant management, college teaching, and consulting. They are also involved in textiles and clothing, child development, and family counseling. They organize consumer education programs, perform research, and test recipes.

Salary, Size & Growth

• $51,000 average per year ($24.50 per hour)
• A small occupation (10,700 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow slowly (0.1% per year)

Entry Requirements

The minimum education requirement for HOME ECONOMISTS is a bachelor's degree. A master's or doctorate degree is required for certain positions particularly in research, supervision, specialties in nutrition, and teaching at the college level or extension service jobs. Teachers of home economics must be certified, and many dietetic positions require registration and licensing in many states. The American Home Economics Association offers certification for home economists as a mark of excellence.