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Health educator: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $42,990lowest 10% earn less
- $50,62025th percentile
- $64,070median
- $87,13075th percentile
- $118,200top 10% earn more
A health educator, listed by BLS as a health education specialist, had a median pay of $64,070 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035[2].
How much do health educators make?
The median wage for health education specialists was $64,070 a year, or $30.80 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. For all occupations the median was $50,980[4], so this job's median sat above the national figure. The mean (average) wage was $73,280 a year, or $35.23 an hour[7].
Pay varies widely. BLS publishes percentile wages, which are boundaries and not a starting salary[8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,990 a year, and the top 10% earned more than $118,200[3].
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[3][9] | $42,990 | $20.67 |
| 25th[3][9] | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| Median[1] | $64,070 | $30.80 |
| 75th[3][9] | $87,130 | $41.89 |
| 90th[3][9] | $118,200 | $56.83 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].
Pay by state and city
Location changes pay a lot. The highest state medians were Maryland at $104,470, the District of Columbia at $103,330 and Georgia at $99,400[11]. Florida had the lowest listed median at $46,360, just below Tennessee at $49,630[11].
California had the most jobs at 12,520, followed by Texas with 5,320 and New York with 4,150[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[13], the Washington, DC area had the highest median at $124,590. Atlanta followed at $112,450, then the San Francisco area at $99,260[13]. The Los Angeles area had the most jobs at 4,320, with a median of $62,380[14].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland[11] | $104,470 | 2,220 |
| District of Columbia | $103,330 | 680 |
| Georgia | $99,400 | 3,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,670 | 2,690 |
| Minnesota | $78,400 | 1,250 |
| Washington | $77,420 | 1,750 |
| Iowa | $75,750 | 540 |
| Oregon | $75,500 | 840 |
| Rhode Island | $75,360 | 150 |
| Colorado | $74,150 | 750 |
| Wisconsin | $74,040 | 900 |
| New Jersey | $73,740 | 1,420 |
| Alaska | $71,940 | 310 |
| New Hampshire | $69,990 | 250 |
| Vermont | $68,140 | 180 |
| Connecticut | $66,870 | 400 |
| Kentucky | $65,370 | 760 |
| Alabama | $65,210 | 540 |
| Ohio | $64,860 | 1,970 |
| South Carolina | $64,720 | 470 |
| Virginia | $64,040 | 690 |
| Hawaii | $63,740 | 190 |
| California | $63,610 | 12,520 |
| Arizona | $63,390 | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $63,300 | 340 |
| Kansas | $62,990 | 520 |
| West Virginia | $62,760 | 400 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | 90 |
| New York | $62,560 | 4,150 |
| Oklahoma | $62,440 | 820 |
| Arkansas | $62,270 | 200 |
| Nevada | $62,120 | 270 |
| Idaho | $61,330 | 370 |
| Illinois | $60,120 | 1,010 |
| Utah | $59,790 | 490 |
| North Dakota | $59,650 | 200 |
| Texas | $59,340 | 5,320 |
| Maine | $58,300 | 490 |
| Indiana | $58,170 | 1,380 |
| North Carolina | $58,080 | 2,110 |
| New Mexico | $57,990 | 660 |
| Louisiana | $57,840 | 470 |
| Massachusetts | $57,510 | 2,420 |
| South Dakota | $57,370 | 190 |
| Missouri | $57,050 | n/a |
| Nebraska | $56,800 | 230 |
| Michigan | $56,360 | 1,480 |
| Montana | $51,200 | 240 |
| Mississippi | $51,020 | 410 |
| Tennessee | $49,630 | 490 |
| Florida | $46,360 | n/a |
How to become a health educator
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[6].
- First: earn a bachelor's degree. The Occupational Outlook Handbook points to health education or health promotion, and says employers may accept other majors such as business, social science or healthcare fields[15].
- Next: consider an internship, which can add knowledge and skills[15].
- Then: check the job posting. Some positions want a master's or doctoral degree, and graduate programs do not generally ask for one specific undergraduate major[16].
- Also: some employers require or prefer certification[17].
In an O*NET survey of 18 workers, 62% said an associate's degree was the education required and 31% said a bachelor's degree[18]. This is a very small survey, so read it as a hint and not as a rule.
O*NET places the job in Job Zone Four, which means considerable preparation is needed[19].
What health educators do
Health educators run programs that help people and communities stay healthy[20]. Typical tasks include:
- Making and sharing materials on topics such as smoking and vaccines[21]
- Presenting workshops, conferences, and school or community talks[21]
- Running needs assessments and public health surveys[21]
- Building working ties with agencies and groups focused on public health[21]
- Keeping databases, mailing lists and activity records[21]
- Supervising staff who carry out program goals[21]
- Writing press releases or running media campaigns[21]
Sample job titles include Health Educator, Community Health Consultant and Health Promotion Specialist[22].
Where they work
Work is mainly in offices, though health educators may spend a lot of time away from the desk to run programs or attend meetings[23]. Government, not counting state and local education and hospitals, was the largest employer at 24%[24]. Full-time work is the norm, and nights or weekends may come up for programs and meetings[25]. Only 0.2% were self-employed in 2025[26].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 70,400 to 74,400 jobs[2]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[27]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].
BLS expects about 6,900 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.8% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 5.2% to move to a different occupation[28].
OEWS counted about 65,690 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[29]. The projections count includes self-employed workers[2], while OEWS does not[29].
Is it a good fit?
The facts suggest a field that asks for a bachelor's degree and no prior experience[6]. Pay was above the all-occupations median, though the range is wide and depends heavily on the state[1][4][11]. Growth is projected a bit faster than average[2][27]. The work mixes planning, teaching and paperwork, with some evening or weekend events[21][25]. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are among the qualities BLS lists[30][31].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a health educator make an hour?
- The median was $30.80 an hour in May 2025, with the lowest-paid 10% earning less than $20.67 and the top 10% earning more than $56.83[1][9].
- What degree do you need to be a health educator?
- BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[6]. Some positions require a master's or doctoral degree[16].
- Is health educator a growing job?
- BLS projects 5.6% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][27].
- Which state pays health educators the most?
- Maryland had the highest median at $104,470, ahead of the District of Columbia at $103,330[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Health Education Specialists in the US was $64,070 per year and $30.80 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Health Education Specialists is projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 70,400 to 74,400 jobs (a change of +3,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Health Education Specialists: 10th percentile $42,990, 25th percentile $50,620, 75th percentile $87,130, 90th percentile $118,200. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 6,900 openings for Health Education Specialists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Health Education Specialists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Health Education Specialists was $73,280 per year and $35.23 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Health Education Specialists: 10th percentile $20.67, 25th percentile $24.34, 75th percentile $41.89, 90th percentile $56.83. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Health Education Specialists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Health Education Specialists jobs: California 12,520; Texas 5,320; New York 4,150; Georgia 3,210; Pennsylvania 2,690. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Health Education Specialists (areas with at least 100 jobs): Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $124,590; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $112,450; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $99,260; Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $84,070; Vallejo, CA $81,630; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $80,990; Rochester, MN $80,960; Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $80,820. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Health Education Specialists jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,320 (median $62,380); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,380 (median $64,110); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,580 (median $112,450); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,100 (median $124,590); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 1,850 (median $99,260); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,620 (median $62,260). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 21-1091.00 survey of workers (18 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 62%, Bachelor's Degree 31% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 21-1091.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Health Education Specialists. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Health Education Specialists. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 21-1091.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Certified Diabetes Educator, Clinical Instructor, Community Health Consultant, Education Coordinator, Health Education Coordinator, Health Education Specialist, Health Educator, Health Promotion Specialist. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of health education specialists in 2025: Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals 24%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: 0.2% of Health Education Specialists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Health Education Specialists: 3.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 65,690 people were employed as Health Education Specialists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.