Community health workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $51,850 | $24.93 |
| Mean (average) | $56,180 | $27.01 |
| 90th percentile | $77,180 | $37.11 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Community health workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,340 | $33,470 | $62,790 | 270 | 0.32 |
| Alaska | $52,000 | $38,780 | $77,210 | 400 | 3.11 |
| Arizona | $48,950 | $39,310 | $75,010 | 1,140 | 0.89 |
| Arkansas | $44,890 | $38,680 | $69,720 | ||
| California | $58,050 | $46,320 | $88,590 | 9,500 | 1.31 |
| Colorado | $59,260 | $45,450 | $76,790 | ||
| Connecticut | $53,560 | $43,120 | $74,120 | 290 | 0.43 |
| Delaware | $55,850 | $35,810 | $74,530 | 280 | 1.43 |
| District of Columbia | $62,510 | $51,010 | $93,070 | 280 | 0.99 |
| Florida | $45,420 | $31,350 | $69,630 | 1,220 | 0.31 |
| Georgia | $50,680 | $34,100 | $73,130 | 490 | 0.25 |
| Hawaii | $58,450 | $37,700 | $84,750 | 240 | 0.96 |
| Idaho | $52,050 | $39,500 | $94,280 | 270 | 0.8 |
| Illinois | $49,240 | $39,040 | $65,540 | 2,040 | 0.84 |
| Indiana | $47,960 | $38,400 | $68,620 | 1,310 | 1.03 |
| Iowa | $47,780 | $37,690 | $71,360 | 390 | 0.63 |
| Kansas | $47,300 | $37,940 | $63,650 | 240 | 0.42 |
| Kentucky | $48,230 | $33,310 | $71,980 | 980 | 1.23 |
| Louisiana | $46,450 | $35,360 | $59,440 | 210 | 0.27 |
| Maine | $48,670 | $41,770 | $61,360 | 360 | 1.43 |
| Maryland | $50,550 | $36,190 | $79,290 | 3,030 | 2.76 |
| Massachusetts | $55,560 | $42,910 | $74,840 | 2,970 | 2.06 |
| Michigan | $49,380 | $37,720 | $74,610 | 1,890 | 1.08 |
| Minnesota | $47,560 | $42,610 | $69,160 | 1,260 | 1.08 |
| Mississippi | $39,520 | $30,930 | $70,890 | 410 | 0.88 |
| Missouri | $48,770 | $36,990 | $64,330 | 1,820 | 1.56 |
| Montana | $49,780 | $38,470 | $79,580 | 330 | 1.62 |
| Nebraska | $51,780 | $38,550 | $72,970 | 160 | 0.39 |
| Nevada | $57,730 | $41,980 | $95,200 | 670 | 1.08 |
| New Hampshire | $66,680 | $43,430 | $77,010 | 200 | 0.75 |
| New Jersey | $55,790 | $39,640 | $83,600 | 1,330 | 0.78 |
| New Mexico | $54,830 | $38,210 | $73,110 | 610 | 1.77 |
| New York | $58,130 | $44,310 | $87,980 | 5,800 | 1.51 |
| North Carolina | $47,560 | $36,160 | $68,380 | 1,680 | 0.86 |
| North Dakota | $59,610 | $44,800 | $76,210 | 90 | 0.53 |
| Ohio | $50,650 | $35,950 | $75,380 | 1,910 | 0.87 |
| Oklahoma | $45,790 | $34,520 | $67,630 | 600 | 0.88 |
| Oregon | $53,350 | $45,000 | $73,760 | 1,980 | 2.54 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,710 | $38,960 | $80,830 | 1,970 | 0.82 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,900 | $22,650 | $49,620 | 670 | 1.8 |
| Rhode Island | $53,100 | $45,370 | $76,310 | 520 | 2.61 |
| South Carolina | $47,970 | $38,110 | $70,230 | 540 | 0.6 |
| South Dakota | $45,700 | $39,230 | $60,630 | 270 | 1.47 |
| Tennessee | $42,310 | $34,180 | $58,960 | 520 | 0.4 |
| Texas | $48,720 | $36,250 | $64,290 | 4,210 | 0.75 |
| Utah | $55,700 | $35,480 | $74,880 | 580 | 0.85 |
| Vermont | $51,500 | $44,010 | $62,320 | 170 | 1.44 |
| Virginia | $48,910 | $34,440 | $79,990 | 620 | 0.38 |
| Washington | $57,070 | $43,820 | $80,680 | 2,640 | 1.87 |
| West Virginia | $37,950 | $29,480 | $56,840 | 310 | 1.13 |
| Wisconsin | $51,210 | $39,010 | $71,450 | 630 | 0.54 |
| Wyoming | $54,020 | $39,520 | $79,600 | 140 | 1.22 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for community health workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 7,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for community health workers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Health Communication CIP 09.0905
- Health and Wellness, General CIP 51.0001
- Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling CIP 51.1504
- Public Health, General CIP 51.2201
- Public Health Education and Promotion CIP 51.2207
- Community Health and Preventive Medicine CIP 51.2208
- Maternal and Child Health CIP 51.2209
- Behavioral Aspects of Health CIP 51.2212
- Arts in Medicine/Health CIP 51.3206
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Report incidences of child or elder abuse, neglect, or threats of harm to authorities, as required.
- Monitor nutrition of children, elderly, or other high-risk groups.
- Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
- Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to self-care, such as diabetes management.
- Refer community members to needed health services.
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
- Develop plans or formal contracts for individuals, families, or community groups to improve overall health.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Google Workspace software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Zoom (hot technology)
- Client databases
- Electronic health record EHR software
- Microsoft Publisher
- SmugMug Flickr
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Communicable Disease Liaison, Community Health Coordinator, Community Health Outreach Worker, Community Health Program Coordinator, Community Health Program Representative (Community Health Program Rep), Community Health Promoter, Community HIV Education Specialist (Community Human Immunodeficiency Virus Education Specialist), Community Navigator, Community Nutrition Educator, Health Program Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do community health workers make?
The national median annual wage for community health workers was $51,850 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,810 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $77,180. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do community health workers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is community health workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of community health workers to change +12.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 7,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay community health workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Hampshire ($66,680), District of Columbia ($62,510), North Dakota ($59,610). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.