### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Health Education Specialists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			health educators imageHealth educators and community health workers teach people about behaviors that promote wellness.							
						Quick Facts:     Health Education Specialists2023     Median Pay
            						$62,860     per year
										$30.22     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    60,400Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    7% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    4,400What Health Education Specialists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Health education specialists are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Health Education Specialist
                                                
                        
Health education specialists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. Certification may be required or preferred for some health education specialists.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for health education specialists was $62,860 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of health education specialists is projected to grow							 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 6,600 openings for health education specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for health education specialists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of health education specialists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about health education specialists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Health Education Specialists Do 
            

			Health educatorsHealth educators and community health workers educate people about the availability of healthcare services.			
Health education specialists teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop strategies to improve the well-being of individuals and communities.
Duties
Health education specialists typically do the following:
Assess the health needs of individuals and communities
Develop programs, materials, and events to teach people about health topics, such as managing existing conditions
Evaluate the effectiveness of programs and educational materials
Help people find health services or information
Provide training programs for community health workers or other healthcare providers
Supervise staff who implement health education programs
Collect and analyze data to learn about a particular community and improve programs and services
Advocate for improved health resources and policies that promote healthHealth education specialists have different duties depending on where they work. The following are descriptions of duties for health education specialists, by work setting:
In ***healthcare facilities***, health education specialists may work one-on-one with patients or their families. They teach patients about their diagnoses and treatment options. They also lead efforts to develop and administer surveys for identifying health concerns in the community and to develop programs that meet those needs. For example, they may help to organize blood-pressure screenings or classes on proper installation of car seats. Health education specialists also create programs to train medical staff to interact more effectively with patients.
In ***nonprofits***, health education specialists create programs and materials about health issues in the community they serve. They help organizations obtain funding, such as through grants for promoting health and disease awareness. They also educate policymakers about ways to improve public health. In nonprofits that focus on a particular disease or audience, health education specialists tailor programs to meet those needs.
In ***public health departments,***health education specialists develop public health campaigns on topics such as emergency preparedness, immunizations, or proper nutrition. They also develop materials for use in the community and by public health officials. Some health education specialists collaborate with other workers, such as on statewide or local committees, to create public policies on health and wellness topics. They may also oversee grants and grant-funded programs to improve the public health.Health education specialists create workplace programs or suggest modifications that focus on wellness. For example, they may develop incentives for employees to adopt healthy behaviors, such as controlling cholesterol, or recommend changes in the workplace to improve employee health, such as creating smoke-free areas.
For information about workers who promote wellness and coordinate care for different populations, see the profile on community health workers. For information about workers who teach health classes in middle and high schools, see the profiles on middle school teachers and high school teachers.
 Work Environment
			Health educatorsHealth educators often work in hospitals, where they help patients understand and adjust to their diagnosis.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Health education specialists held about 60,400 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of health education specialists were as follows:
        Government
                26%Ambulatory healthcare services
                17Hospitals; state, local, and private
                17Social assistance
                9Educational services; state, local, and private
                6Although most health education specialists work in offices, they may spend a lot of time away from their desks to carry out programs or attend meetings.
Work Schedules
Most health education specialists are employed full time. They may need to work nights and weekends to attend programs or meetings.
 How to Become a Health Education Specialist

			Health educatorsHealth educators need at least a bachelor’s degree.			
Health education specialists typically need at least bachelor’s degree. Some employers require or prefer that health education specialists be certified.
Education
Health education specialists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in health education or health promotion. Employers may accept a variety of other majors, including business, social science, and healthcare and related fields. Students may gain additional knowledge and skills through an internship.
Some health education specialist positions require candidates to have a master’s or doctoral degree. Graduate program fields of degree may include community health education, school health education, public health education, or health promotion. Applicants to these master’s degree programs generally do not need a specific undergraduate major.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Employers may require or prefer that health education specialists obtain certification, such as the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. or the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) credential offered by the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Health education specialists collect and evaluate data to determine the needs of the people they serve.
***Communication skills.*** Health education specialists must be able to clearly convey information in health-related materials and in written proposals for programs and funding.
***Instructional skills.*** Health education specialists lead programs, teach classes, and facilitate discussion with clients and families.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Health education specialists interact with many people from a variety of backgrounds. They must be good listeners and be empathetic in responding to the needs of the people they serve.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Health education specialists must think creatively about improving the health of the community. In addition, they may need to solve problems that arise in planning programs, such as budget constraints or resistance from the community they are serving.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Health Education SpecialistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Health education specialists$62,860  Counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists$51,970  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for health education specialists was $62,860 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,630, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,920.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for health education specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Hospitals; state, local, and private
                $79,460Government
                65,340Ambulatory healthcare services
                60,480Educational services; state, local, and private
                59,060Social assistance
                46,220Most health education specialists are employed full time. They may need to work nights and weekends to attend programs or meetings.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Health Education SpecialistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists9%  Health education specialists7%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of health education specialists is projected to grow				 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 6,600 openings for health education specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
An emphasis on promoting healthy behaviors is expected to increase demand for these specialists over the decade.
Governments, healthcare providers, and social services providers want to find ways to improve the quality of care and health outcomes while reducing costs. This objective should increase demand for health education specialists to teach people about health and wellness, which in turn helps to prevent costly diseases and medical procedures.
			

                        Employment projections data for     health education specialists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Health education specialists**
			21-1091
			60,400
			64,800
			7
			4,400
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Health education specialists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of health education specialists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Community Health Workers**
            Community health workers promote wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviors. They implement programs and advocate for people who may have limited access to health resources and social services.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $48,200**Dietitians and Nutritionists**
            Dietitians and nutritionists plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to help people lead healthy lives.
            Bachelor's degree
            $69,680**Epidemiologists**
            Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury.
            Master's degree
            $81,390**High School Teachers**
            High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.
            Bachelor's degree
            $65,220**Middle School Teachers**
            Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades.
            Bachelor's degree
            $64,290**Postsecondary Teachers**
            Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.
            See How to Become One
            $84,380**School and Career Counselors and Advisors**
            School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.
            Master's degree
            $61,710**Social and Human Service Assistants**
            Social and human service assistants provide client services in a variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $41,410**Social Workers**
            Social workers help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.
            See How to Become One
            $58,380**Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors**
            Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors advise people on a range of issues, such as those relating to alcoholism, addictions, or depression.
            Bachelor's degree
            $53,710**Marriage and Family Therapists**
            Marriage and family therapists diagnose and treat cognitive, behavioral, or similar disorders in the context of couples and other relationships.
            Master's degree
            $58,510
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about health education specialists, visit
Society for Public Health Education
American Public Health Association
For more information about credentials for health education specialists, visit
Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.
CareerOneStop
For a career video about health education specialists, visit
Health education specialists

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Health Education Specialists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Education Specialists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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