Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Health
Education
Specialist Health education specialists need at least a bachelor’s degree. Health education specialists typically need at least bachelor’s degree. Some employers require or prefer that health education specialists be certified. Education Health education specialists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in health education or health promotion. Employers may accept a variety of other majors, including business, social science, and healthcare and related fields. Students may gain additional knowledge and skills through an internship. Some health education specialist positions require candidates to have a master’s or doctoral degree. Graduate program fields of degree may include community health education, school health education, public health education, or health promotion. Applicants to these master’s degree programs generally do not need a specific undergraduate major.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Employers may require or prefer that health education specialists obtain certification. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of health education specialists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 6,900 openings for health education specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment An emphasis on promoting healthy behaviors is expected to sustain demand for these specialists over the decade. Governments, healthcare providers, and social services providers want to find ways to improve the quality of care and to achieve better health outcomes while reducing costs. This objective may increase demand for health education specialists to teach people about health and wellness, which may help to prevent costly diseases and medical procedures. Health Education Specialists Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists 8% Health education specialists 6% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Health Education Specialists Do
Health education specialists teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop strategies to improve the well-being of individuals and communities.
Duties
Health education specialists typically do the following:
- Assess the health needs of individuals and communities
- Develop programs, materials, and events to teach people about health topics, such as managing existing conditions
- Evaluate the effectiveness of programs and educational materials
- Help people find health services or information
- Provide training programs for community health workers or other healthcare providers
- Supervise staff who implement health education programs
- Collect and analyze data to learn about a particular community and improve programs and services
- Advocate for improved health resources and policies that promote health
Health education specialists have different duties depending on where they work. The following are descriptions of duties for health education specialists, by work setting:
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In healthcare facilities, health education specialists may work one-on-one with patients or their families. They teach patients about their diagnoses and treatment options. They also lead efforts to develop and administer surveys for identifying health concerns in the community and to develop programs that meet those needs. For example, they may help to organize blood-pressure screenings or classes on proper installation of car seats. Health education specialists also create programs to train medical staff to interact more effectively with patients.
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In nonprofits, health education specialists create programs and materials about health issues in the community they serve. They help organizations obtain funding, such as through grants for promoting health and disease awareness. They also educate policymakers about ways to improve public health. In nonprofits that focus on a particular disease or audience, health education specialists tailor programs to meet those needs.
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In public health departments, health education specialists develop public health campaigns on topics such as emergency preparedness, immunizations, or proper nutrition. They also develop materials for use in the community and by public health officials. Some health education specialists collaborate with other workers, such as on statewide or local committees, to create public policies on health and wellness topics. They may also oversee grants and grant-funded programs to improve the public health.
Health education specialists create workplace programs or suggest modifications that focus on wellness. For example, they may develop incentives for employees to adopt healthy behaviors, such as controlling cholesterol, or recommend changes in the workplace to improve employee health, such as creating smoke-free areas.
For information about workers who promote wellness and coordinate care for different populations, see the profile on community health workers. For information about workers who teach health classes in middle and high schools, see the profiles on middle school teachers and high school teachers.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Health education specialists held about 70,400 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of health education specialists were as follows:
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 24% |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 18 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 16 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 14 |
| Social assistance | 7 |
Although most health education specialists work in offices, they may spend a lot of time away from their desks to carry out programs or attend meetings.
Work Schedules
Most health education specialists are employed full time. They may need to work nights and weekends to attend programs or meetings.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Analytical skills. Health education specialists collect and evaluate data to determine the needs of the people they serve. Communication skills. Health education specialists must be able to clearly convey information in health-related materials and in written proposals for programs and funding. Instructional skills. Health education specialists lead programs, teach classes, and facilitate discussion with clients and families. Interpersonal skills. Health education specialists interact with many people from a variety of backgrounds. They must be good listeners and be empathetic in responding to the needs of the people they serve. Problem-solving skills. Health education specialists must think creatively about improving the health of the community. In addition, they may need to solve problems that arise in planning programs, such as budget constraints or resistance from the community they are serving.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about health education specialists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.