Community Health Workers in California
Thinking about a career as a Community Health Workers in California? Below are the key facts. Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs. Excludes “Health Education Specialists” (21-1091).
What do Community Health Workers Make in California?
The community health workers working in California, wages run about $57,560 per year (or roughly $27.67/hour).Annual wages span from $45,200 at the 10th percentile to $89,920 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,200 | $21.73 |
| 25th percentile | $47,830 | $22.99 |
| Median (50th) | $57,560 | $27.67 |
| 75th percentile | $70,540 | $33.92 |
| 90th percentile | $89,920 | $43.23 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California relative to the national average — is 1.29, suggesting that community health workers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, community health workers earn a median of $73,901 per year ($35.53/hour), below the California median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 265,047 community health workers in the U.S.. In California alone, about 9,200 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 590 community health workers.
Top California Metros for Community Health Workers
The metro areas below employ the most community health workers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,380 | $51,390 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,770 | $72,030 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 690 | $49,230 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 620 | $51,610 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 490 | $54,800 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 420 | $73,310 |
| Fresno, CA | 220 | $50,750 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 150 | $56,320 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 100 | $51,590 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 90 | $50,980 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 90 | $54,880 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 90 | $51,420 |
| Visalia, CA | 90 | $59,990 |
| Salinas, CA | 80 | $56,060 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 70 | $60,120 |
| Chico, CA | 60 | $43,660 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 60 | $50,300 |
| Vallejo, CA | 60 | $65,610 |
| Modesto, CA | 50 | $47,840 |
Top States for Community Health Workers Employment
View the states that employ the most community health workers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 9,200 |
| New York | 6,740 |
| Texas | 4,360 |
| Washington | 2,440 |
| Massachusetts | 2,310 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,160 |
| Ohio | 2,100 |
| Maryland | 2,020 |
| Illinois | 1,860 |
| Florida | 1,740 |
| Missouri | 1,710 |
| North Carolina | 1,600 |
| Oregon | 1,580 |
| Michigan | 1,580 |
| New Jersey | 1,400 |
| Arizona | 1,160 |
| Virginia | 1,090 |
| Minnesota | 1,070 |
| Indiana | 1,050 |
| Kentucky | 930 |
Highest-Paying States for Community Health Workers
These states pay the most for community health workers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $71,550 |
| New Mexico | $71,210 |
| Connecticut | $59,480 |
| North Dakota | $57,840 |
| California | $57,560 |
| Nevada | $57,380 |
| Colorado | $57,100 |
| New York | $56,950 |
| Rhode Island | $56,760 |
| Washington | $56,460 |
Skills
Top community health workers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for community health workers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Community Health Workers typically:
- Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
- Identify or contact members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups, such as members of minority populations, low-income populations, or pregnant women.
- Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
- Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community.
- Refer community members to needed health services.
- Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
- Perform basic diagnostic procedures, such as blood pressure screening, breast cancer screening, or communicable disease screening.
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to diagnostic screenings, such as breast cancer screening, pap smears, glaucoma tests, or diabetes screenings.
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to risk or prevention of conditions, such as lead poisoning, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), prenatal substance abuse, or domestic violence.
- Administer immunizations or other basic preventive treatments.
- Identify the particular health care needs of individuals in a community or target area.
Work Activities
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Working with Computers
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Developing Objectives and Strategies
- Scheduling Work and Activities
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Apple macOS, Google Workspace software In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Public Health
- Health Sciences & Services
- Mental & Social Health Services
- Bioethics/Medical Ethics
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to community health workers include:
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
- Mental Health Counselors
- Rehabilitation Counselors
Also Known As
Apprise Counselor, Behavioral Health Advocate, Behavioral Health Worker (BHW), Benefits Outreach Specialist, Community Development Coordinator, Community Health Advisor, Community Health Advocate, Community Health Agent, Community Health Assistant, Community Health Counselor, Community Health Navigator, Community Health Outreach Worker, Community Health Program Coordinator, Community Health Program Representative (Community Health Program Rep), Community Health Promoter.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 21-1094.00
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