Health education specialists
SOC Code: 21-1091Also known as:
Breastfeeding Educator, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Certified Breastfeeding Educator (CBE), Certified Diabetes Educator, Certified Health Education Specialist
Median Annual Salary
$63,000
+4.5% growth (2024-2034)
8K
Openings/Year
72K
Current Jobs
What Health education specialists Do
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.
💰 Salary
$63,000
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+4.5%
Faster than average
🎓 Education
Bachelor's degree
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
8K
Projected average per year
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
71,800
Projected Employment (2034)
75,000
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Top Skills Required
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Learning Strategies
Active Learning
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- 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.
- Develop operational plans and policies necessary to achieve health education objectives and services.
- Provide program information to the public by preparing and presenting press releases, conducting media campaigns, or maintaining program-related Web sites.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Bachelor's degree
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Associate's Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Health education specialists
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a health education specialists:
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 Services/Liaison/Counseling
2,298 degrees awarded •
104 colleges offer this program
International Public Health/International Health
1,500 degrees awarded •
69 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
Dental Public Health and Education
84 degrees awarded •
13 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Health education specialists
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become health education specialists.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do health education specialists make?
The median annual salary for health education specialists is $63,000.
What education do health education specialists need?
Most health education specialists positions require a bachelor's degree.
Common degree programs include Public Health, General, Health and Wellness, General, Public Health Education and Promotion.
Is becoming health education specialists a good career choice?
Health education specialists is projected to see +4.5% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 7,900 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for health education specialists?
Top colleges for aspiring health education specialists include
Johns Hopkins University, University of California-Berkeley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Columbia University in the City of New York, University of Southern California.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to health education specialists?
Health education specialists may also be known as: Breastfeeding Educator, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Certified Breastfeeding Educator (CBE), Certified Diabetes Educator, Certified Health Education Specialist, Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Certified Lactation Educator, Clinical Educator, Clinical Instructor, Clinical Nurse Educator, Clinical Trial Educator, Community Educator, Community Health Consultant, Community Health Education Coordinator, Community Health Educator, Community Health Worker (CHW), CPR and First Aid Instructor (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and First Aid Instructor), CPR Instructor (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Instructor), Diabetes Educator, Early Breastfeeding Care Specialist.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.