Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Health education specialists focus on improving health outcomes by combining communication, science knowledge, and people skills. Nationally, this occupation has a median annual salary of $63,000 and employs about 72,000 people, indicating a substantial workforce. Projected employment growth of 4.5% and 8,000 annual openings suggest ongoing demand and regular opportunities for entry and advancement. The role draws heavily on skills such as speaking and listening, writing and reading, interpersonal communication, project management, and critical and analytical thinking, supported by a foundation in science. Creativity, adaptability, leadership, and customer service skills also contribute to success in this field. With a typical education level of a bachelor’s degree, this career can be accessible to new graduates as well as career changers prepared to build the required skill set. Overall, health education specialists can find a blend of stable employment prospects, professional interaction, and opportunities to apply both analytical and communication strengths.
For health education specialists, the national median annual salary is $63,000, with notable variation across states and metro areas. Among top states, Washington reports a median salary of $77,420 and Colorado $74,150, both above California’s $63,610 and New York’s $62,560. Massachusetts shows a median of $57,510. At the metro level, salaries range even higher in some areas. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro reports a median salary of $124,590, while San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA shows $99,260 and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $75,810. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has a median of $64,110, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH stands at $62,260. These figures indicate that earnings can vary substantially by location, and that some metro areas offer significantly higher median pay than the national figure.
Health education specialists have a national employment level of 72,000, with projected employment growth of 4.5%. This growth projection, combined with approximately 8,000 annual openings, points to ongoing replacement needs and opportunities for new entrants and experienced professionals. The consistent 4.5% growth rate appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, suggesting a broadly similar outlook in multiple regions rather than concentrated change in just one area. With thousands of positions already in place nationally and a steady stream of openings each year, individuals interested in this field can expect a labor market with recurring hiring activity. The combination of existing employment size and projected growth supports the potential for both new graduates and experienced workers to move into or within the occupation over time, as roles open through both growth and turnover.
Location plays a significant role in the opportunity profile for health education specialists. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York rank highest by opportunity score, at 67.38, 65.87, and 65.78 respectively, with California also having the largest employment at 12,520. Washington and Colorado show lower opportunity scores (56.29 and 56.97) but higher median salaries of $77,420 and $74,150, creating a tradeoff between pay and overall opportunity score. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ lead with opportunity scores above 77, combining solid employment levels with strong overall scores. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro stands out for the highest listed median salary of $124,590, while San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers $99,260. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH provides a balance of a 63.37 opportunity score and a median salary of $62,260. These figures highlight meaningful differences in both opportunity and pay across regions.
The typical education level for health education specialists is a bachelor’s degree. This requirement positions the occupation as accessible to individuals completing four-year undergraduate programs or those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and want to transition into a health-focused role. Success in this field relies on a combination of communication, analytical, and organizational skills. Key strengths include project management, speaking and listening, and writing and reading, which support planning and delivering health-related information. Interpersonal skills, customer service, and leadership are also important for working effectively with diverse groups and guiding initiatives. Science knowledge underpins the ability to understand health-related content, while creativity and innovation, adaptability, and critical and analytical thinking help specialists respond to changing situations and develop effective approaches. Together, this mix of education and skills provides a foundation for building a sustainable career as a health education specialist.
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