Community and Social Service · Career brief

Community Health Workers

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Community Health Workers at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$51,850

Below the middle on pay

2025 national median. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

12.7%

Strong projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top 10% for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

7,000

Moderate opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

People-centered

Helping, teaching, or working directly with people matters

Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is growth; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if people-centered work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

Before choosing, compare:Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Mental Health Counselor Healthcare Social Workers

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Community Health Workers with another field Explore rankings in Community and Social Service Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$51,850

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

12.7%employment growth7,000openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

64,700

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Community health workers (21-1094).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
Identify or contact members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups, such as members of minority populations, low-income populations, or pregnant women.
Refer community members to needed health services.
Perform basic diagnostic procedures, such as blood pressure screening, breast cancer screening, or communicable disease screening.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization4.9
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.8
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.8
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.6

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Social6.6
Enterprising3.5
Investigative3.5
Conventional3.4
Artistic2.2
Realistic2.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Medicine and Dentistry Psychology Computers and Electronics

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Volunteer in a structured, supervised role long enough to learn whether sustained responsibility for other people's needs feels meaningful or draining.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Community health workers nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Speaking, Writing among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options