Life As a Health Educator
Job Description: Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May serve as a resource to assist individuals, other healthcare workers, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.
Life As a Health Educator: What Do They Do?
- Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with agencies and organizations interested in public health care.
- Develop and maintain health education libraries to provide resources for staff and community agencies.
- Develop, prepare, and coordinate grant applications and grant-related activities to obtain funding for health education programs and related work.
- Maintain databases, mailing lists, telephone networks, and other information to facilitate the functioning of health education programs.
- Provide program information to the public by preparing and presenting press releases, conducting media campaigns, or maintaining program-related Web sites.
- Collaborate with health specialists and civic groups to determine community health needs and the availability of services and to develop goals for meeting needs.
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What Every Health Educator Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Health Educators say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Related Job Titles
- Tobacco Prevention Health Educator
- Public Health Representative
- Coordinator, Tobacco-Free Wellness Center
- PCT Preceptor (Patient Care Technician Preceptor)
- Lactation Consultant
Is There Job Demand for Health Educators?
In the United States, there were 61,000 jobs for Health Educator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 8,900 new jobs for Health Educator by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 8,700 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Health Educator are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maryland, Illinois, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Health Educators Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of a Health Educator ranges between $32,030 and $98,530.
Health Educators who work in District of Columbia, Georgia, or Rhode Island, make the highest salaries.
How much do Health Educators make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $53,060 |
| Alaska | $62,800 |
| Arizona | $53,630 |
| Arkansas | $49,270 |
| California | $65,000 |
| Colorado | $56,800 |
| Connecticut | $71,940 |
| Delaware | $67,310 |
| District of Columbia | $88,060 |
| Florida | $54,520 |
| Georgia | $85,440 |
| Hawaii | $74,230 |
| Idaho | $54,110 |
| Illinois | $58,610 |
| Indiana | $55,130 |
| Iowa | $54,650 |
| Kansas | $52,480 |
| Kentucky | $49,280 |
| Louisiana | $55,930 |
| Maine | $49,510 |
| Maryland | $77,820 |
| Massachusetts | $63,270 |
| Michigan | $52,470 |
| Minnesota | $57,740 |
| Mississippi | $43,140 |
| Missouri | $46,470 |
| Montana | $45,370 |
| Nebraska | $46,610 |
| Nevada | $60,090 |
| New Hampshire | $59,100 |
| New Jersey | $61,110 |
| New Mexico | $54,240 |
| New York | $57,010 |
| North Carolina | $57,300 |
| North Dakota | $56,410 |
| Ohio | $55,730 |
| Oklahoma | $55,490 |
| Oregon | $56,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,220 |
| Rhode Island | $78,680 |
| South Carolina | $60,060 |
| South Dakota | $49,060 |
| Tennessee | $40,700 |
| Texas | $54,580 |
| Utah | $52,630 |
| Vermont | $58,430 |
| Virginia | $55,880 |
| Washington | $60,780 |
| West Virginia | $48,870 |
| Wisconsin | $55,800 |
| Wyoming | $48,590 |
What Tools do Health Educators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Health Educators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Visio
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Publisher
- MEDITECH software
- Blackboard
- Blackbaud The Raiser’s Edge
- Blogging software
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epi Info
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC WONDER
- Wiki software
Becoming a Health Educator
What education or degrees do I need to become a Health Educator?
How many years of work experience do I need?
You May Also Be Interested In…
Career changers with experience as a Health Educator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Coaches and Scouts
- Athletic Trainers
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
References:
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