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Community and Social Service

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Health Education Specialists
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Median pay

$63,000
Median annual pay for Health Education Specialists.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

4.5%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

7,900
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

71,800
Estimated U.S. employment for Health Education Specialists in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+3,200
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Bachelor's degree
Typical education needed to enter Health Education Specialists.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Writing
  4. 4Learning Strategies
  5. 5Active Learning
  6. 6Critical Thinking

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2Education and Training
  3. 3English Language
  4. 4Administrative
  5. 5Psychology
  6. 6Public Safety and Security

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Speech Clarity
  4. 4Written Comprehension
  5. 5Written Expression
  6. 6Inductive Reasoning

Career interests

  1. 1Social
  2. 2Investigative
  3. 3Conventional
  4. 4Enterprising
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Realistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Empathy
  3. 3Social Orientation
  4. 4Cooperation
  5. 5Sincerity
  6. 6Integrity

Work activities

  1. 1Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  2. 2Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  3. 3Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  4. 4Getting Information
  5. 5Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
  6. 6Communicating with People Outside the Organization

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  3. 3Telephone Conversations
  4. 4Contact With Others
  5. 5Freedom to Make Decisions
  6. 6Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Representative 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.

Software and tools

Microsoft PowerPoint · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandAdobe Photoshop · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyMicrosoft Visio · hot technologyFacebook · hot technologyMEDITECH software · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyPadletMicrosoft Publisher

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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