Community health workers
SOC Code: 21-1094Also known as:
Apprise Counselor, Behavioral Health Advocate, Benefits Outreach Specialist, Community Development Coordinator, Community Health Advisor
Median Annual Salary
$51,030
+11.3% growth (2024-2034)
8K
Openings/Year
65K
Current Jobs
What Community health workers Do
Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs.
💰 Salary
$51,030
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+11.3%
Much faster than average
🎓 Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
8K
Projected average per year
📚 On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Expected training period
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
65,099
Projected Employment (2034)
72,500
Related Careers
Rehabilitation counselors
$46,110 •
+1.4% growth
Child, family, and school social workers
$58,570 •
+3.4% growth
Healthcare social workers
$68,090 •
+7.7% growth
Mental health and substance abuse social workers
$60,060 •
+9.7% growth
Health education specialists
$63,000 •
+4.5% growth
Top Skills Required
Active Listening
Speaking
Social Perceptiveness
Writing
Reading Comprehension
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
- Identify or contact members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups, such as members of minority populations, low-income populations, or pregnant women.
- Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
- Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community.
- Refer community members to needed health services.
- Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Bachelor's Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Community health workers
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a community health workers:
Public Health, General
25,004 degrees awarded •
456 colleges offer this program
Health and Wellness, General
5,611 degrees awarded •
200 colleges offer this program
Public Health Education and Promotion
3,785 degrees awarded •
157 colleges offer this program
Community Health and Preventive Medicine
2,571 degrees awarded •
112 colleges offer this program
Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling
2,298 degrees awarded •
104 colleges offer this program
Behavioral Aspects of Health
623 degrees awarded •
44 colleges offer this program
Health Communication
362 degrees awarded •
57 colleges offer this program
Maternal and Child Health
180 degrees awarded •
20 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Community health workers
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become community health workers.
Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do community health workers make?
The median annual salary for community health workers is $51,030.
What education do community health workers need?
Most community health workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent.
Common degree programs include Public Health, General, Health and Wellness, General, Public Health Education and Promotion.
Is becoming community health workers a good career choice?
Community health workers is projected to see +11.3% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is much faster than average for all occupations. With approximately 7,800 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for community health workers?
Top colleges for aspiring community health workers include
University of California-Berkeley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Columbia University in the City of New York, Johns Hopkins University, University of Florida.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to community health workers?
Community health workers may also be known as: Apprise Counselor, Behavioral Health Advocate, Benefits Outreach Specialist, Community Development Coordinator, Community Health Advisor, Community Health Advocate, Community Health Agent, Community Health Assistant, Community Health Counselor, Community Health Navigator, Community Health Outreach Worker, Community Health Program Coordinator, Community Health Program Representative (Community Health Program Rep), Community Health Promoter, Community Health Representative, Community Health Specialist, Community Health Worker (CHW), Community Liaison, Community Living Instructor, Community Navigator.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.