Bariatric Jobs Salary Survey 2024

Pursuing a Career in Bariatrics: How Much Salary to Expect in 2024?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity affects approximately 100.1 million (41.9%) adults in the United States. Combining 19.7% of obesity-affected children, the disease accounts for over $147 billion in total healthcare costs annually. Unlike the common misconception, obesity isn’t just about weight gain. It also increases the risk of numerous life-threatening comorbidities such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, liver disease, or renal failure.

People with severe obesity often struggle to lose weight with exercise and diet alone. In such cases, bariatric surgery may provide proven weight loss results. Today, it is more common, less invasive, and a safe way to lose body weight and get in shape. As U.S. Bariatric Surgery Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence, the market size is projected to reach $1.04 billion by 2028, registering a compound annual growth of 5.19% between 2023 and 2028.

The dramatic rise in demand has made bariatric surgery a lucrative career field for anyone who wants to pursue the medical profession. If you think obesity is a life-concerning disease and want to support people in prevention and treatment, then you can choose to subspecialize in the field of bariatrics. The demand and specialties in this segment are huge, and the scope of growth is also impressive.

This is primarily because obesity and overweight will continue to impact people’s lives due to poor lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, stress, hereditary, and other factors. However, people are getting more conscious about their health and wellbeing today, Therefore, bariatric surgeries or other non-surgical weight loss procedures are gaining popularity.

Job Opportunities in Bariatrics

Bariatrics is a vast field. It encompasses surgical, medical, and procedural disciplines, focused on providing comprehensive care to patients who are obese or overweight. This paves the way for several career opportunities with significant growth prospects. Remember, it is a subspeciality and practicing medical professionals may seek to pursue a Fellowship program in bariatrics.

Typically, the job opportunities in this segment are:

– Bariatric surgeon: The person must have completed a General Surgery Residency, along with a minimum of 2 years of fellowship training in bariatric surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgery. Additionally, he or she must be board-certified in general surgery. A bariatric surgeon specializes in performing surgeries to interrupt or alter the digestion process so that the food is not absorbed in the usual way. As the amount of calories or nutrients absorbed in the body reduces, the patient is likely to lose weight.

– Bariatric Metabolic Physician: The primary role of a Bariatric Metabolic Physician is to comprehensively examine a patient with obesity. They determine the severity and degree of obesity, indicating the patient’s health risks and helping make the right decision. The physician will also assess the medical suitability and eligibility for various weight loss measures such as surgery, diet, pharmacotherapy, endoscopy, etc.

– Medical Bariatrician: A Medical Bariatrician advises on obesity-control measures, combining exercise routines, dietary management and weight loss supplements. He or she must have additional expertise in the field of bariatric medicine. Certification from the American Board of Obesity Medicine may also be required.

– Bariatric Nurse: The role of a bariatric nurse is to provide comprehensive care to patients with morbid obesity. This includes assisting bariatric surgeons in their procedures and taking care of patients who are undergoing surgeries. To be a bariatric nurse, one must have completed their training as a Registered Nurse (RN). Additionally, they require Basic Life Support certification and Bariatric Nurse Certification from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

– Bariatric Coordinator: A Bariatric Coordinator works as a liaison between the patient and the bariatric-metabolic center or the bariatric physician/surgeon. They also overlook scheduling and communicating patient appointments., verifying insurance benefits, collecting payments, and implementing quality improvements or accreditation standards.

– Bariatric Dietitian: A dietitian plays a pivotal role in both surgical and non-surgical methods of obesity management. As optimum diet is integral for effective bariatric interventions, a dietitian will assess the patient’s condition and provide ongoing nutritional advice to help achieve sustainable weight loss in the long run.

A City-Wise Overview of Salary in the Field of Bariatrics

As a career in bariatrics is gaining popularity significantly, you’d be interested to know the expected salaries in various fields. In this section of our metastudy, we provide a city-wise overview of bariatric salaries. This will give you an idea of the expected salary you can make in the profession of obesity management in your city.

1. Los Angeles

Weight loss surgeries, and even non-surgical weight loss interventions, are gaining popularity in Los Angeles. It is one of the highest-paying cities in the United States, ensuring a lucrative career prospect. The following indicates the approximate salaries of healthcare professionals in various fields of obesity management in Los Angeles, California:

Bariatric Surgeon salary: The salary of a Bariatric Surgeon ranges between $333,720 and $604,800 per year, with an average of $504,000 as of August 2023. This is 12% higher than the national average of $450,000. The salary difference may be due to several reasons such as the experience & qualifications of the surgeon, a bariatric center he/she is associated with, specializations, etc.

Bariatric Nurse salary: The average salary of a registered Bariatric Nurse in Los Angeles is $109,391 per year. This is approximately 29% higher than the national average of $84,768 annually.

Bariatric Metabolic Physician Salary: As we mentioned earlier, Los Angeles is one of the highest-paying cities in the field of bariatrics. Physicians may expect a yearly salary ranging from $45,478 to $688,796. The average salary stands at $183,150, which is 3% higher than the national average of $177,831.

Bariatric Coordinator salary: The salary range of a Bariatric Program Coordinator typically falls between $65,259 and $85,229. The median salary in Los Angeles stands at $73,919 as of August 2023.

Bariatric Dietitian salary: The estimated salary of a Bariatric Dietitian in the United States is $89,552 per year. In Los Angeles, it ranges between $42,230 and $65,706 annually, with a median salary of $54,146.

2. Miami

Miami is another U.S. city popular for its high success rates in surgical and non-surgical obesity management. If you live in Miami and want to progress your career in bariatrics, here is an overview of expected salaries in different specializations:

Bariatric Surgeon salary: The salary of a Bariatric Surgeon in Miami, FL, starts from around $248,712. Specialist surgeons with several years of experience may earn around $634,082 per year. The average pay is around $451,625, which is above the national average of $380,333.

Bariatric Nurse Salary: Registered Bariatric Nurses in Miami may earn an average salary of $73,574 per year, which is lower than the nationwide average of $84,68.

Bariatric Physician salary: Considering the integral role that a Bariatric Physician plays in obesity management, their salary may range between $216,806 and $412,777 annually in Miami, Florida. The median salary stands at $325,534 per year.

Bariatric Coordinator salary: As of August 2023, the salary range of a Bariatric Coordinator in Miami is between $56,412 and $73,676. The average salary is $63, 898 per year.

Bariatric Dietitian salary: The average salary of a Bariatric Dietitian is around $47,642 per year, whereas the salary ranges between $37,157 and $57,814 annually.

3. New York

If you are in New York and pursuing specialized training & certification in bariatrics, the following indicates the average salary in the city:

Bariatric Surgeon Salary: The average salary of a bariatric surgeon in New York is around $575,100 annually, which is over 28% above the nationwide average of $450,000. The annual salary ranges between $460,080 and $690,120.

Bariatric Nurse Salary: Bariatric nurses in New York earn at least 32% higher than the national average, with an average annual salary of $112,244. The nationwide average stands at $84,768.

Bariatric Physician salary: With an average salary of $170,058 per year, bariatric surgeons earn at least 5% more than the U.S. average. While the top 86% of the physicians earn $478,192 per year, the middle 57% makes around $170,058 to $272,382 annually.

Bariatric Coordinator salary: The median bariatric coordinator salary in New York is between $71,243 and $77,362 per year. However, the salary range stands at $68,299 to $89,200 annually.

Bariatric Dietitian salary: As of August 2023, the bariatric dietitian salary range is between $41,581 and $64,696 per year in New York. This averages at $52,384 annually.

4. Houston

Here is a glimpse of the average annual salary in the field of bariatrics in Houston:

Bariatric Surgeon salary: The bariatric surgeon’s annual salary range is $250,758 to $478,946 in Houston. The average base salary is around $303,699 per year.

Bariatric Nurse Salary: The national average salary of bariatric nurses in Houston is $84,768 per year. Compared to this, nurses in Houston earn 6% higher, standing at $89,860 annually.

Bariatric Physician salary: While no definitive information is available about bariatric physician salary in Houston, it may range between $2.0 lakhs and $4.0 lakhs per year.

Bariatric Physician Salary: The estimated average salary of a bariatric coordinator in Houston is $43,075 per year.

Bariatric Dietitian salary: The total estimated salary of bariatric dietitians in Houston is between $40,427 and $62,901 per year.

5. Dallas

The estimated average salaries in different bariatric specializations are as follows in Dallas:

Bariatric Surgeon Salary: Experienced and board-certified bariatric surgeons in Dallas may earn an estimated annual salary of $419,880 to $469,765. The starting salary stands at around $292,194 per year, with the average base salary being $353,884.

Bariatric Nurse Salary: Bariatric nurses in Dallas typically earn 3% higher salary than the national average. They make an average of $88,114 per year whereas the nationwide average in the United States is $84,768.

Bariatric Physician Salary: The bariatric physician’s salary in and around Dallas stands between $65,118 and $599,701 per year. The median salary is $183,166 as of September 2023.

Bariatric Coordinator Salary: The average annual pay for a bariatric coordinator in Dallas ranges from $41k to $66k.

Bariatric Dietitian Salary: The annual salary of bariatric dietitians and nutritionists ranges from $37,959 to $59,061 in Dallas, Texas.

6. Denver

Bariatric Surgeon Salary: The average annual bariatric surgeon salary in Denver, Colorado, is around $25,000. Surgeons at entry-level positions may earn approximately $20,000, whereas more experienced bariatric professionals make up to $97,500 per year.

Bariatric Nurse Salary: A registered nurse – bariatric may make a yearly salary starting from around $46,000 and up to $102,000 in Denver.

Bariatric Physician Salary: The average pay for a bariatric physician in Denver is around $336,877 per year. The annual salary ranges between $224,360 and $427,161.

Bariatric Coordinator Salary: As of August 2023, the average salary of bariatric program coordinator is $66,913 in Denver, Colorado. The annual salary typically ranged from $59,074 to $77,152.

Bariatric Dietitian Salary: The salary range for the job position of bariatric dietitian in Colorado is $38,600 to $60,060 per year.

7. Atlanta

Bariatric Surgeon Salary: The average salary of a bariatric surgeon in Atlanta, GA, is between $450,137 and $527,400. Their typical salary ranges from $282,686 and $631,993 per year.

Bariatric Nurse Salary: Bariatric nurses in and around Atlanta make an average annual salary of $84,077. This is a little lower than the national average of $84,768 per year.

Bariatric Physician Salary: The average salary of a bariatric physician in Atlanta, GA, is $177,830. The annual salary typically starts from $37,843, while the top 86% of the physicians earn $404,284.

Bariatric Coordinator Salary: A bariatric program coordinator in Atlanta, GA, earns an average salary of $64,667, with an annual salary ranging from $57,091 to $74,563.

Bariatric Dietitian salary: The average pay of a bariatric dietitian in Atlanta is $67,803. The 25^th percentile earns an average of $52,900, while the top 75^th percentile makes $74,200 per year on average.

8. Chicago

Bariatric Surgeon Salary: The Chicago average bariatric surgeon salary is between $258,057 and $469,730 per year. The salary ranges from $73,988 to $707,130 annually.

Bariatric Nurse Salary: A bariatric nurse in Chicago earns an average salary of $83,906 per year, which is 1% lower than the national average.

Bariatric Physician Salary: The average pay of bariatric physicians in Illinois is around $329,005 per year.

Bariatric Coordinator salary: For professionals seeking to pursue a career as a bariatric program coordinator in Chicago, IL, the average expected salary is $69,455 per year.

Bariatric Dietitian salary: The salary range for the job position of bariatric dietitian in Chicago, IL, is from $40,388 to $62,841 per year. The average salary is $51,785 annually.

9. Washington DC

Bariatric Surgeon salary: The annual salary of bariatric surgeons in Washington DC ranges between $323,717 and $723,724 per year. The average pay stands at $506,697 yearly.

Bariatric Nurse Salary: The average pay of bariatric nurses in Washington DC is around $72,199 per year.

Bariatric Coordinator salary: The bariatric coordinator’s salary in Washington DC is around $75,567 per year.

Bariatric Dietitian Salary: The annual salary range for the job position of bariatric dietitian in Washington DC is between $42,532 and $66,177 per year.

10. Seattle

Bariatric Surgeon salary: The salary of General and Bariatric surgeons in Seattle ranges from $313,00 to $438,200 per year, with an average salary of $438,200 annually.

Bariatric Nurse salary: A bariatric registered nurse (RN) in Seattle earns up to $152,087 per year.

Bariatric Coordinator salary: As of September 2023, the starting average salary of a bariatric coordinator in Seattle is approximately $37,000. Experienced coordinators may expect around $148,000 per year.

Bariatric Dietitian salary: The average pay for the job position of a registered dietitian in Seattle is around $70,426.

11. Nashville

Bariatric Surgeon salary: The entry-level salary of bariatric surgeon in Nashville is around $359,280 per year. On the other hand, the top 67% of the surgeons earn $540,000. The median salary stands at $449,100 annually.

Bariatric Nurse Salary: Bariatric nurses in Nashville earn 16% lower than the national average, standing at $71,183 per year. The nationwide salary is $84,768 annually.

Bariatric Physician Salary: The average pay of a bariatric physician in Nashville, TN, is $167,075 per year. The salary is 24% lower than the total average salaries of other metro cities Dallas, Washington DC, and Atlanta.

Bariatric Coordinator salary: Bariatric program coordinators in and around Nashville, TN, earn an average salary of $57,623 as of July 2023. The salary range stands between $51,025 and $66,640 per year.

Bariatric Dietitian salary: The salary range for the job position of a Bariatric Dietitian falls between $35,196 to $54,763 per year. The average base salary is $45,128 annually.

Bariatrics Industry Salaries Meta Study 2023

Here is an overview of bariatric industry salaries in the United States across all specializations:

– Bariatric Surgeon: As of August 2023, the annual salary range for the position of bariatric surgeon is $297,247 to $427,141 per year in the United States. The average base salary is $360,004 annually.

– Bariatric Nurse: The average pay of a bariatric registered nurse is $97,424 per year in the United States.

– Bariatric Physician: The average salary of a bariatric physician in the United States is between $212,211 and $404,030 per year. They earn an average pay of $318,636 annually.

– Bariatric Coordinator: The base salary of bariatric program coordinator ranges between $58,127 and $75,915 per year in the United States. The average annual salary is $65,840 per year.

– Bariatric Dietitian: The national average salary of a certified bariatric dietitian in the United States is $360,004 per year. They may earn a salary of $297,247 to $427,141 per year.

Conclusion

The bariatric industry in the United States paves the way for lucrative career opportunities. This guide will provide comprehensive insights into estimated salaries across different specializations.

References

https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/state-local-programs/fundingopp/2023/hop.html#:~:text=Obesity%20in%20the%20United%20States,in%20annual%20health%20care%20costs.

https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/usa-bariatric-surgery-market#:~:text=How%20big%20is%20the%20United,USD%201%2C043.92%20million%20by%202028.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8106360/