Health Education Specialists
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 by State
| State Name | Employment | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 460 | $55,350 | $26.61 | |
| Alaska | 180 | $69,590 | $33.46 | |
| Arizona | 1,300 | $51,400 | $24.71 | |
| Arkansas | 220 | $49,920 | $24.00 | |
| California | 7,070 | $70,650 | $33.97 | |
| Colorado | 720 | $63,630 | $30.59 | |
| Connecticut | 450 | $79,340 | $38.14 | |
| Delaware | 320 | $64,410 | $30.97 | |
| District of Columbia | 630 | $94,610 | $45.49 | |
| Florida | 4,540 | $64,840 | $31.18 | |
| Georgia | 2,860 | $88,740 | $42.66 | |
| Hawaii | 230 | $62,080 | $29.85 | |
| Idaho | 530 | $70,620 | $33.95 | |
| Illinois | 1,800 | $55,230 | $26.55 | |
| Indiana | 1,540 | $62,790 | $30.19 | |
| Iowa | 680 | $60,330 | $29.01 | |
| Kansas | 370 | $55,690 | $26.77 | |
| Kentucky | 780 | $62,080 | $29.85 | |
| Louisiana | 720 | $68,810 | $33.08 | |
| Maine | 430 | $58,590 | $28.17 | |
| Maryland | 1,910 | $90,140 | $43.34 | |
| Massachusetts | 1,430 | $72,010 | $34.62 | |
| Michigan | 1,490 | $53,170 | $25.56 | |
| Minnesota | 1,830 | $64,160 | $30.85 | |
| Mississippi | 390 | $43,850 | $21.08 | |
| Missouri | 1,330 | $51,660 | $24.84 | |
| Montana | 230 | $50,800 | $24.42 | |
| Nebraska | 300 | $56,900 | $27.36 | |
| Nevada | 190 | $58,710 | $28.23 | |
| New Hampshire | 180 | $70,530 | $33.91 | |
| New Jersey | 450 | $63,550 | $30.56 | |
| New Mexico | 1,020 | $51,160 | $24.60 | |
| New York | 2,860 | $62,930 | $30.26 | |
| North Carolina | 860 | $55,220 | $26.55 | |
| North Dakota | 60 | $57,620 | $27.70 | |
| Ohio | 1,930 | $60,550 | $29.11 | |
| Oklahoma | 910 | $60,360 | $29.02 | |
| Oregon | 680 | $71,170 | $34.22 | |
| Pennsylvania | 1,700 | $62,450 | $30.02 | |
| Rhode Island | 140 | $73,890 | $35.53 | |
| South Carolina | 500 | $56,660 | $27.24 | |
| South Dakota | 190 | $48,480 | $23.31 | |
| Tennessee | 1,130 | $67,260 | $32.34 | |
| Texas | 3,870 | $54,440 | $26.17 | |
| Utah | 470 | $55,050 | $26.46 | |
| Vermont | 330 | $65,690 | $31.58 | |
| Virginia | 960 | $70,810 | $34.04 | |
| Washington | 1,410 | $67,570 | $32.49 | |
| West Virginia | 310 | $50,050 | $24.06 | |
| Wisconsin | 780 | $63,430 | $30.50 | |
| Wyoming | 160 | $51,230 | $24.63 |
Education
The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.
A program that focuses on how people, individually and collectively, understand and accommodate to health and illness and the role of communication and media in shaping professional health care messages and public acceptance of these messages. Includes instruction in the development and use of health-related and care-related messages and media; the goals and strategies of health care promotion; relationships, roles, situations, and social structures in the context of health maintenance and promotion; and applications to disease prevention, health advocacy, and communications concerning treatments.
A program of study that prepares individuals to assume roles as health/wellness professionals in private business and industry, community organizations, and health care settings. Includes instruction in personal health, community health and welfare, nutrition, epidemiology, disease prevention, fitness and exercise, and health behaviors.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of dental disease prevention and control, community dental health promotion, and prepares dentists and public health professionals to function as dental health specialists. Includes instruction in preventive dentistry, the relationship of oral disease to health and quality of life, patient and practitioner behavior, dental epidemiology, nutrition and dental health, dental care policy and delivery, oral health program planning and administration, biostatistics, and research methods.
A program that prepares individuals to serve as facilitators, advocates, and referral professionals linking health care and related social services with affected recipient communities. Includes instruction in public and community health, human and social services, health services administration, group counseling, health education, group advocacy, cross-cultural and multilingual communication, and applicable laws and policies.
A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, manage, and evaluate public health care services; to function as public health professionals in public agencies, the private sector, and other settings; and to provide leadership in the field of public health. Includes instruction in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health principles, preventive medicine, health policy and regulations, health care services and related administrative functions, public health law enforcement, health economics and budgeting, public communications, and professional standards and ethics.
A program that focuses on the application of educational and communications principles and methods to the promotion of preventive health measures and the education of targeted populations on health issues, and prepares individuals to function as public health educators and health promotion specialists. Includes instruction in human development, health issues across the life span, population-specific health issues, principles and methods of public health education, administration of health education campaigns and programs, evaluation methods, public communications, and applications to specific public health subjects and issues.
A program that focuses on the application of public health specializations, public policy studies, and the social and behavioral sciences to issues of health affecting women, children, and families; and prepares individuals to function as maternal and child health specialists. Includes instruction in research design and testing, program evaluation, public policy analysis, public finance, economics of health care, community health, family development and dynamics, women's studies, social psychology, fetal and child development, biostatistics, health education and promotion, nutrition, neonatal development, psychology, and social services delivery.
A program that focuses on the application of public health specializations, the social and behavioral sciences, and policy and communications methods to the study of health problems in low- and middle-income countries and regions, and prepares individuals to function as professional international health specialists. Includes instruction in health education and promotion, research design and evaluation, infectious disease epidemiology, international health policy and management, public nutrition and food security, information systems, program evaluation, medical anthropology, international communication, behavioral sciences, maternal and child health, demography and population policy, and health care finance and economics.
A program that focuses on the biological, behavioral, and socio-cultural determinants of health and health behavior, and the interventions and policies aimed at improving community and population health. Includes instruction in behavioral sciences, public health practice and policy, human services, and research methods.
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$64,930 per yearNational average salaryModerateJob growth rate
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Bachelor's degreeTypical education requirement
Educational Attainment
The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as health education specialists.
- Less than high school 2%
- High school graduate 11%
- College dropout 16%
- Associate’s degree 9%
- Bachelor’s degree 37%
- Master’s degree 20%
- Doctorate degree 4%
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