Health Education Specialists
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.
Also called: Behavioral Health Educator, BLS Instructor (Basic Life Support Instructor), Breastfeeding Educator, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Certified Breastfeeding Educator (CBE), Certified Diabetes Educator
Median pay
$64,070
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$42,990 – $118,200
People employed
65,690
Holland code
SIC
Social · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 2.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 3.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Health Education Specialists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What health education specialists do
- 01Prepare and distribute health education materials, such as reports, bulletins, and visual aids, to address smoking, vaccines, and other public health concerns.
- 02Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with agencies and organizations interested in public health care.
- 03Maintain databases, mailing lists, telephone networks, and other information to facilitate the functioning of health education programs.
- 04Document activities and record information, such as the numbers of applications completed, presentations conducted, and persons assisted.
- 05Develop and present health education and promotion programs, such as training workshops, conferences, and school or community presentations.
- 06Collaborate with health specialists and civic groups to determine community health needs and the availability of services and to develop goals for meeting needs.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Administrative
- Psychology
Work styles that stand out
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from health education specialists
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary85% · +25%
- Social and Community Service Managers81% · +25%
- Dietitians and Nutritionists80% · +19%
- Training and Development Specialists80% · +8%
- Clinical Nurse Specialists80% · group pay
Change into health education specialists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Patient Representatives84% · $50,290
- Training and Development Specialists84% · $69,280
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education82% · $52,100
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary81% · $80,250
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare80% · $59,300
Majors that lead here
- Health Communication
- Health and Wellness, General
- Dental Public Health and Education
- Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling
- Public Health, General
- Public Health Education and Promotion
- Maternal and Child Health
- International Public Health/International Health
- Behavioral Aspects of Health
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.