Health Education Specialists
SOC code 21-1091 · O*NET-SOC 21-1091.00 · Considerable preparation needed
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Health Education Specialists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$64,070
a year
Hourly
$30.80
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$73,280
$35.23 per hour
Middle 50%
$50,620 – $87,130
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$42,990 – $118,200
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
65,690
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $42,990
- $20.67/hr
- 25th percentile
- $50,620
- $24.34/hr
- Median percentile
- $64,070
- $30.80/hr
- 75th percentile
- $87,130
- $41.89/hr
- 90th percentile
- $118,200
- $56.83/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+4%
Growing faster than average
71,800
jobs in 2024
75,000
projected for 2034
About 3,200 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a health education specialist 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to become a health education specialist
Most people in this role hold associate's degree or other 2-year degree — 62% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree62%
- Bachelor's Degree31%
- Master's Degree3%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)3%
Common questions
How much does a health education specialist earn?
The national median is $64,070 a year. The full range runs from $42,990 at the 10th percentile to $118,200 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a health education specialist without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is health education specialist in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 4% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Writing4.1/5
- Speaking4.1/5
- Learning Strategies4.0/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.6/5
- Education and Training4.5/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Administrative4.1/5
- Psychology3.6/5
- Public Safety and Security3.6/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.5/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing.