Does the average Get Bigger know a lick about foodservice management, community nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, nutrition metabolism, biochemistry, and parenteral and enteral nutrition, more so than the average RD? I don't say this to be sarcastic, but to say that some forum poster knows more than an RD about OUR field is asinine. If they did know enough, I guess they'd be competent to work in a medical institution considering their knowledge would supposedly make them competent in the application of medical nutrition, or even sports nutrition.
I don't appreciate the obnoxious comment about being an RD in a skilled nursing facility being as easy as serving mashed potatoes and vegetables (which I don't considering I am not a foodservice worker), but to answer someone's question about pay, I make 80k per year salary, plus the little side things I do in writing diets for individuals. Certainly not rich, but I live a satisfying middle class nonetheless and am aiming to move up the ladder by becoming a foodservice director RD (can make low six figures in that position) perhaps but definitely am aiming to transition to become a licensed nursing home administrator (LNHA) in the future and plan on taking three or four of the courses I need to take, going through the administrator-in-training (AIT) period (which can be shortened greatly for me because of my previous department head experience). Average pay for nursing home admins in NYC or LI is 130 to 160K, with some corporations or sole owners paying higher, plus perks. Of course a nursing home admin does not work as RD, but many allied health professionals such as RD's, RN's, PT's, have made the transition.
This veered off topic but I am answering with my experience and personal goals.