Community Health Worker
Connect neighbors with health care and help them stay healthy.
- $51,850
- 1–3 months
Community, Social & Government Services career
Health Educator
Also called: Health Education Specialist · Wellness Coordinator · Public Health Educator · Prevention Specialist
What health educators do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a health educator do?
Health education specialists develop programs and materials that teach people about health and wellness, in hospitals, health departments, schools, nonprofits and workplaces. The median pay is $64,070 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4 years, and employment is projected to grow +5.6% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$64,070$30.80/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+5.6%2025–35, faster than average
- Openings per year6,900Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to train4 yearsTypical program length
- U.S. jobs70,400Employment, 2025
What health educators do
Health educators help people make healthier choices. They assess community health needs, design programs on topics like nutrition, tobacco, vaccines, sexual health and chronic disease, create materials and campaigns, teach classes, train community health workers and evaluate results.
Most health educators have a bachelor’s degree in health education, public health or a related field, and many earn the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential.
Typical duties
- Assess community health needs
- Design health programs
- Create materials and campaigns
- Teach classes and workshops
- Train staff and volunteers
- Evaluate program results
- Advocate for health policies
Work environment and schedule
Health educators work in health departments, hospitals, schools, nonprofits and workplaces, with time in the community.
Schedule: Most work full-time, with some evenings and weekends for events.
A day in the life
- Review survey data on teen vaping.
- Teach a nutrition class at a community center.
- Meet partners about a vaccine campaign.
- Design social media posts for the campaign.
See a full day in the life of a health educator →
Health Educator salary
Half of health educators earned more than $64,070 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $42,990 for the lowest 10% to $118,200 for the top 10%.
Full health educator pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a health educator
- Study health or public health
- Get field experience
- Earn CHES
- Build programs
- Advance
A bachelor’s degree in health education, public health or a related field is typical.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a health educator →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Needs assessment
- Program planning
- Curriculum design
- Evaluation
- Health communication
People skills
- Communication
- Creativity
- Cultural humility
- Organization
All health educator skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Prevent illness on a large scale
- Creative program work
- Variety of settings
- Regular hours
Cons
- Grant-dependent jobs
- Slow, hard-to-see results
- Evening events
- Modest starting pay
Certifications and licenses
- Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES): National certification.
- Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES): Advanced credential.
- Certified Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach: CDC program credential.
- Mental Health First Aid Instructor: Training credential.
Career path
- Health Educator: Teach and run programs.
- Senior Health Educator: Lead initiatives.
- Program Manager: Manage programs.
- Public Health Director: Lead departments.
Learn the job before day one
Our Health Educator training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as write SMART objectives and create plain-language materials, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Health Educator vs. Community Health Worker · Health Educator vs. Dietitian · Health Educator vs. Community Service Manager · Health Educator vs. Corporate Trainer
Health Educator FAQ
Do health educators need a degree?
Usually a bachelor’s degree.
What is CHES?
A national certification for health educators.
Where do they work?
Health departments, hospitals, schools, nonprofits and workplaces.
How much does a health educator make?
The median annual wage for health educators was $64,070 ($30.80 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $42,990 and the highest 10% earned more than $118,200.
How long does it take to become a health educator?
Most people need about 4 years of training. A bachelor’s degree in health education, public health or a related field is typical.
Do you need a degree to be a health educator?
Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.
More health educator questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 21-1091 (Health education specialists).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Health education specialists (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.