How much does a health educator make?
a year · about $31 an hour
A typical health educator in the United States makes $64,070 a year, about $31 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check community surveys, then make handouts or plan classes on vaccines or nutrition. They may teach patients or groups, connect people with care, and check whether the program works.
Did you know? Health educators may recommend making a workplace smoke-free—or offering rewards to help workers control cholesterol, not just teach a class.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $42,990 and $118,200How do you become one?
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree in health education, health promotion, or a related field; an internship can help. Some employers require or prefer certification, and earning CHES involves meeting academic requirements and passing its exam.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, CHES certification, employer type, and location. Health educators may focus on different health topics, and more complex duties or greater responsibility can also affect pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Maryland ($104,470), lowest in Michigan ($56,360).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $42,990 | $64,070 | $118,200 | about 66,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $104,470 | about 2,000 |
| District of Columbia | $103,330 | about 680 |
| Georgia | $99,400 | about 3,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,670 | about 3,000 |
| Minnesota | $78,400 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Community Health Workers” (21-1094).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/21-1091.00
- www.nchec.org/ches
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY