Health Education Specialists Career, Salary and Skills
Health Education Specialists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $64,070 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 65,690. Wage data is published for 271 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
21-1091.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$64,070
Hourly median
$30.80
Employment
65,690
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Writing | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 3.62 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Coordination | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Instructing | 3.38 | 3.25 |
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
- Adobe Photoshop
- 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
- JamBoard
- LogMeIn GoToWebinar
- MEDITECH software
- Mentimeter
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
Health Education Specialists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Health Education Specialists Salary in CAMedian $63,610 · Employment 12,520
- Health Education Specialists Salary in TXMedian $59,340 · Employment 5,320
- Health Education Specialists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $62,380 · Employment 4,320
- Health Education Specialists Salary in NYMedian $62,560 · Employment 4,150
- Health Education Specialists Salary in New York, NYMedian $64,110 · Employment 3,380
- Health Education Specialists Salary in GAMedian $99,400 · Employment 3,210
- Health Education Specialists Salary in PAMedian $80,670 · Employment 2,690
- Health Education Specialists Salary in Atlanta, GAMedian $112,450 · Employment 2,580
- Health Education Specialists Salary in MAMedian $57,510 · Employment 2,420
- Health Education Specialists Salary in MDMedian $104,470 · Employment 2,220
- Health Education Specialists Salary in NCMedian $58,080 · Employment 2,110
- Health Education Specialists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $124,590 · Employment 2,100
Related careers
- Patient RepresentativesNational median $50,290
- Instructional CoordinatorsNational median $77,440
- Registered NursesNational median $97,550
- Nurse PractitionersNational median $132,300
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersNational median $60,280
- Mental Health CounselorsNational median not published
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsNational median $64,330
- Preventive Medicine PhysiciansNational median $265,930
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.