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

Community Health Workers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			Community Health Workers							
						Quick Facts:     Community Health Workers2023     Median Pay
            						$48,200     per year
										$23.17     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    High school diploma or equivalentWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    67,200Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    14% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    9,400What Community Health Workers Do
                                                
                        
                        
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.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Community health workers are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, public health departments, and community-based organizations. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Community Health Worker
                                                
                        
To enter the occupation, community health workers typically need at least a high school diploma; some employers prefer to hire candidates who have postsecondary education. To attain competency, they typically complete a brief period of on-the-job training, and some states require certification.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for community health workers was $48,200 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of community health workers is projected to grow							 14 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 8,000 openings for community health workers 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 community health workers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of community health workers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about community health workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Community Health Workers Do 
            

			Community Health WorkersCommunity health workers provide services such as basic health screenings.			
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.
Duties
Community health workers typically do the following:
Coordinate care among individuals, communities, and health and social service systems
Conduct outreach, such as through home visits
Provide culturally appropriate health and informational resources
Oversee case management and resource access
Advocate for individuals and communities regarding housing, food security, and other needs
Provide coaching and social support, such as nutrition training, recovery services for mental health and substance use disorders, and chronic disease management and prevention
Provide services, such as basic health screenings and first aid
Increase individual and community participation in assessments and education to improve health and well-beingCommunity health workers act as intermediaries between their clients and providers of healthcare and social services. They identify health-related issues, collect data, and discuss clients’ health concerns within the community. For example, community health workers might identify barriers preventing clients from access to transportation and provide referrals to resources that provide it.
Ideally, these workers have close ties to the communities they serve so that they understand their clients’ unique needs. They share that information with providers of healthcare and social services for determining appropriate programs and care. They also advocate for community wellness needs and conduct outreach to engage clients, assist with navigating healthcare, and improve coordination of care.
Community health workers may have different titles, depending on the population they serve. For example, *community health representatives* increase health knowledge and access to care for Tribal communities. *Promotores de la salud* reduce barriers to healthcare and social services in Spanish-speaking communities. *Peer support specialists* have experienced a mental health or substance use disorder and are in recovery while providing support to others experiencing similar challenges.
Community health workers work closely with other healthcare and social service providers, including registered nurses, social workers, and substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors.
 Work Environment
			Community Health WorkersTo interact with community members, community health workers may travel to a variety of settings.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Community health workers held about 67,200 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of community health workers were as follows:
        Social assistance
                20%Ambulatory healthcare services
                17Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                15Hospitals; state, local, and private
                10Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                10Community health workers may spend part of their day in an office for activities such as recordkeeping and writing reports. However, they spend much of their time in the field to interact with community members, hold events, and collect data. They may travel to a variety of settings, including homes or medical facilities, to meet with clients.
Community health workers often collaborate with healthcare and social service providers as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Work Schedules
Most community health workers are employed full time. They may need to work evenings and weekends to attend community events, programs, or meetings.
 How to Become a Community Health Worker

			Community Health WorkersCommunity health workers need instructional skills to lead programs.			
To enter the occupation, community health workers typically need at least a high school diploma; some employers prefer to hire candidates who have postsecondary education. To attain competency, they typically complete a brief period of on-the-job training, and some states require certification.
Education
Community health workers typically need at least a high school diploma, although some jobs require postsecondary education. Postsecondary community health worker programs may lead to a 1-year certificate or a 2-year associate’s degree. These programs cover topics such as wellness, ethics, and cultural awareness.
Training
Community health workers typically complete on-the-job training. They learn about topics useful in their work, including communication styles, outreach and advocacy methods, and legal and ethical issues.
Some workers participate in apprenticeships or other programs that provide opportunities for hands-on experience.
Other Experience
Community health workers usually benefit from understanding the specific community, culture, medical condition, or disability with which they work. They may have personal experience in these areas, or they may gain experience by working in activities such as community development, public health, or social outreach.
The ability to speak another language is helpful for working in some communities.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Some states require certification for community health workers, which may include completing an approved training program. For more information, contact your state’s board of health, nursing, or human services.
Advancement
Experienced community health workers may move into supervisory positions.
With additional education, community health workers may be able to transition to occupations such as health education specialists; registered nurses; social workers; or substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Community health workers must be able to clearly convey information in health-related materials to those they serve and in written proposals for programs and funding.
***Cultural sensitivity**.***Community health workers must be respectful of the communities they serve and be understanding of their concerns.
***Instructional skills.*** Community health workers lead programs and facilitate discussions with clients.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Community health workers interact with people from a variety of backgrounds. They must be good listeners and be empathetic in responding to the needs of the communities they serve.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Community health workers must think creatively about the best ways to serve their clients. For example, they may need to adapt program planning because of budget constraints or when encountering resistance from community members.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Community Health WorkersMedian annual wages, May 2023Community health workers$48,200  Total, all occupations$48,060  Miscellaneous community and social service specialists$46,250Note: 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 community health workers was $48,200 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 $35,560, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $75,980.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for community health workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Hospitals; state, local, and private
                $55,070Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                50,130Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                48,080Ambulatory healthcare services
                46,130Social assistance
                45,400Most community health workers are employed full time. They may need to work evenings and weekends to attend community events, programs or meetings.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Community Health WorkersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Community health workers14%  Miscellaneous community and social service specialists8%  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 community health workers is projected to grow				 14 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 8,000 openings for community health workers 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
	
			
Community health workers will continue to be needed to help organizations and government agencies provide people with health-related information, such as how to access medical services. Demand for these workers will also stem from their role in implementing public health initiatives, including preventive measures to reduce the spread of disease.
			

                        Employment projections data for     community health workers, 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**Community health workers**
			21-1094
			67,200
			76,600
			14
			9,400
			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. Community health workers **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 community health workers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Health Education Specialists**
            Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being.
            Bachelor's degree
            $62,860**Home Health and Personal Care Aides**
            Home health and personal care aides monitor the condition of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses and help them with daily living activities.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $33,530**Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses**
            Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide basic medical care.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $59,730**Registered Nurses**
            Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.
            Bachelor's degree
            $86,070**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
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about community health workers, visit
American Public Health Association
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
National Association of Community Health Representatives
National Association of Community Health Workers
National Association of Peer Supporters
Visión y Compromiso
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Community health workers (PDF)

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


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