Health education specialists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,990 | $20.67 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $64,070 | $30.80 |
| Mean (average) | $73,280 | $35.23 |
| 90th percentile | $118,200 | $56.83 |
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
Health education specialists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $65,210 | $40,580 | $97,180 | 540 | 0.61 |
| Alaska | $71,940 | $49,980 | $100,760 | 310 | 2.26 |
| Arizona | $63,390 | $42,770 | $134,630 | 1,140 | 0.83 |
| Arkansas | $62,270 | $38,230 | $96,780 | 200 | 0.36 |
| California | $63,610 | $49,020 | $113,170 | 12,520 | 1.63 |
| Colorado | $74,150 | $41,710 | $117,170 | 750 | 0.61 |
| Connecticut | $66,870 | $47,800 | $115,540 | 400 | 0.56 |
| Delaware | $63,300 | $37,400 | $99,360 | 340 | 1.67 |
| District of Columbia | $103,330 | $63,250 | $170,980 | 680 | 2.3 |
| Florida | $46,360 | $29,990 | $94,040 | ||
| Georgia | $99,400 | $51,800 | $153,630 | 3,210 | 1.55 |
| Guam | $73,070 | $44,720 | $94,550 | 30 | 1.09 |
| Hawaii | $63,740 | $35,500 | $99,130 | 190 | 0.71 |
| Idaho | $61,330 | $43,930 | $90,120 | 370 | 1.03 |
| Illinois | $60,120 | $41,480 | $105,660 | 1,010 | 0.39 |
| Indiana | $58,170 | $36,130 | $96,010 | 1,380 | 1.02 |
| Iowa | $75,750 | $46,450 | $95,750 | 540 | 0.81 |
| Kansas | $62,990 | $36,790 | $97,430 | 520 | 0.85 |
| Kentucky | $65,370 | $44,610 | $98,030 | 760 | 0.9 |
| Louisiana | $57,840 | $40,020 | $91,490 | 470 | 0.58 |
| Maine | $58,300 | $45,290 | $82,490 | 490 | 1.8 |
| Maryland | $104,470 | $56,160 | $161,470 | 2,220 | 1.9 |
| Massachusetts | $57,510 | $37,460 | $142,860 | 2,420 | 1.58 |
| Michigan | $56,360 | $37,750 | $89,050 | 1,480 | 0.79 |
| Minnesota | $78,400 | $45,730 | $106,780 | 1,250 | 1 |
| Mississippi | $51,020 | $35,860 | $76,490 | 410 | 0.83 |
| Missouri | $57,050 | $42,960 | $97,800 | ||
| Montana | $51,200 | $35,230 | $82,990 | 240 | 1.11 |
| Nebraska | $56,800 | $38,570 | $83,520 | 230 | 0.54 |
| Nevada | $62,120 | $33,830 | $111,840 | 270 | 0.41 |
| New Hampshire | $69,990 | $46,550 | $108,210 | 250 | 0.87 |
| New Jersey | $73,740 | $46,250 | $130,100 | 1,420 | 0.78 |
| New Mexico | $57,990 | $39,730 | $94,220 | 660 | 1.78 |
| New York | $62,560 | $44,830 | $95,980 | 4,150 | 1.01 |
| North Carolina | $58,080 | $44,410 | $99,140 | 2,110 | 1.01 |
| North Dakota | $59,650 | $47,410 | $90,660 | 200 | 1.08 |
| Ohio | $64,860 | $40,690 | $98,110 | 1,970 | 0.84 |
| Oklahoma | $62,440 | $39,270 | $103,780 | 820 | 1.14 |
| Oregon | $75,500 | $54,430 | $111,860 | 840 | 1.01 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,670 | $45,720 | $120,640 | 2,690 | 1.05 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,650 | $29,360 | $60,520 | 600 | 1.51 |
| Rhode Island | $75,360 | $38,660 | $110,780 | 150 | 0.72 |
| South Carolina | $64,720 | $44,050 | $99,290 | 470 | 0.49 |
| South Dakota | $57,370 | $46,400 | $78,360 | 190 | 0.97 |
| Tennessee | $49,630 | $39,130 | $110,450 | 490 | 0.36 |
| Texas | $59,340 | $45,790 | $112,320 | 5,320 | 0.89 |
| Utah | $59,790 | $48,290 | $110,430 | 490 | 0.66 |
| Vermont | $68,140 | $56,080 | $97,430 | 180 | 1.38 |
| Virginia | $64,040 | $42,640 | $137,980 | 690 | 0.4 |
| Washington | $77,420 | $52,910 | $95,680 | 1,750 | 1.16 |
| West Virginia | $62,760 | $41,580 | $106,710 | 400 | 1.36 |
| Wisconsin | $74,040 | $50,710 | $96,940 | 900 | 0.73 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | $56,430 | $97,980 | 90 | 0.76 |
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 health education specialists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.2%.
- 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 health education specialists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- 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
- Dental Public Health and Education CIP 51.0504
- Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling CIP 51.1504
- Public Health, General CIP 51.2201
- Public Health Education and Promotion CIP 51.2207
- Maternal and Child Health CIP 51.2209
- International Public Health/International Health CIP 51.2210
- Behavioral Aspects of Health CIP 51.2212
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
- Blackboard software
- Blogging software
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC WONDER
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epi Info
- Edpuzzle
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing, Time Management, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Certified Diabetes Educator, Clinical Instructor, Community Health Consultant, Education Coordinator, Health Education Coordinator, Health Education Specialist, Health Educator, Health Promotion Specialist, Public Health Educator, Public Information Officer.
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 health education specialists make?
The national median annual wage for health education specialists was $64,070 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $42,990 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $118,200. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do health education specialists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is health education specialists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of health education specialists to change +5.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay health education specialists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Maryland ($104,470), District of Columbia ($103,330), Georgia ($99,400). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.