Health Education Specialists

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $64,070/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$42,990$118,200

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +4.5% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.

About 7,900 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Active ListeningWritingSpeakingLearning StrategiesSocial PerceptivenessActive LearningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionCoordinationInstructing

Top knowledge areas

Customer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguageAdministrativePsychologyPublic Safety and SecurityMathematicsSociology and Anthropology

Core tasks

• Prepare and distribute health education materials, such as reports, bulletins, and visual aids, to address smoking, vaccines, and other public health concerns.

• Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with agencies and organizations interested in public health care.

• Maintain databases, mailing lists, telephone networks, and other information to facilitate the functioning of health education programs.

• Document activities and record information, such as the numbers of applications completed, presentations conducted, and persons assisted.

• Develop and present health education and promotion programs, such as training workshops, conferences, and school or community presentations.

• Collaborate with health specialists and civic groups to determine community health needs and the availability of services and to develop goals for meeting needs.

• Develop, conduct, or coordinate health needs assessments and other public health surveys.

• Supervise professional and technical staff in implementing health programs, objectives, and goals.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Health Education Specialists?

The median pay for Health Education Specialists is $64,070 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Health Education Specialists?

Employment for Health Education Specialists is projected to change +4.5% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Health Education Specialists?

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Health Education Specialists?

About 7,900 openings per year, on average, over the decade.