Career comparison
Environmental Health Specialist vs. Health Educator
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Environmental health specialists earn more at the median ($82,220 vs. $64,070), while environmental health specialists usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Environmental health specialists inspect restaurants, pools, water and housing to protect public health. Health educators teach people and communities how to live healthier lives.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Environmental Health Specialist | Health Educator | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $82,220 ($39.53/hr) | $64,070 ($30.80/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $52,520 – $140,010 | $42,990 – $118,200 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.1% (faster than average) | +5.6% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 7,300 | 6,900 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 4 years |
| Key credential | Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS/RS) | Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) |
| Work setting | Specialists work in health department offices and in the field at restaurants, pools, homes and businesses. | Health educators work in health departments, hospitals, schools, nonprofits and workplaces, with time in the community.. |
What each job does
Environmental Health Specialist
- Inspect restaurants, food stores and processors
- Review plans for new food and pool facilities
- Test pools, private wells and water supplies
- Evaluate and permit septic systems
- Investigate complaints and foodborne illness outbreaks
Health Educator
- Assess community health needs
- Design health programs
- Create materials and campaigns
- Teach classes and workshops
- Train staff and volunteers
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, and in-demand. They sit in different fields, safety & environmental and community, social & government services, but share transferable skills such as communication and communication.
Which should you choose?
Choose environmental health specialist if…
- I like science that protects people
- I don’t mind enforcing rules
- I like working in the field
Choose health educator if…
- I love teaching about health
- I enjoy creating materials
- I like public speaking
Still torn? Take the Environmental Health Specialist fit quiz and the Health Educator fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, environmental health specialist or health educator?
Environmental Health Specialists earn more at the median: $82,220 versus $64,070 for health educators, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Environmental Health Specialists typically train faster (4 years) than health educators (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects environmental health specialists to grow +6.1% from 2025–35, compared with +5.6% for health educators.