How much does a health education specialist make?
The median health education specialist in the United States earns $64,070 per year, about $30.80 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all health education specialists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 21-1091.
Health education specialist salary range
Pay for health education specialists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $42,990 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $118,200. The average (mean) wage of $73,280 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,990 | $20.67 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $50,620 | $24.34 | |
| Median (50th) | $64,070 | $30.80 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $87,130 | $41.89 | |
| 90th percentile | $118,200 | $56.83 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for health education specialists (SOC 21-1091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Health education specialist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Health education specialists earn the most in Maryland at $104,470 a year, and the least in Florida at $46,360. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $104,470 | 2,220 |
| District of Columbia | $103,330 | 680 |
| Georgia | $99,400 | 3,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,670 | 2,690 |
| Minnesota | $78,400 | 1,250 |
| Washington | $77,420 | 1,750 |
| Iowa | $75,750 | 540 |
| Oregon | $75,500 | 840 |
| Rhode Island | $75,360 | 150 |
| Colorado | $74,150 | 750 |
| Wisconsin | $74,040 | 900 |
| New Jersey | $73,740 | 1,420 |
| Alaska | $71,940 | 310 |
| New Hampshire | $69,990 | 250 |
| Vermont | $68,140 | 180 |
| Connecticut | $66,870 | 400 |
| Kentucky | $65,370 | 760 |
| Alabama | $65,210 | 540 |
| Ohio | $64,860 | 1,970 |
| South Carolina | $64,720 | 470 |
| Virginia | $64,040 | 690 |
| Hawaii | $63,740 | 190 |
| California | $63,610 | 12,520 |
| Arizona | $63,390 | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $63,300 | 340 |
| Kansas | $62,990 | 520 |
| West Virginia | $62,760 | 400 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | 90 |
| New York | $62,560 | 4,150 |
| Oklahoma | $62,440 | 820 |
| Arkansas | $62,270 | 200 |
| Nevada | $62,120 | 270 |
| Idaho | $61,330 | 370 |
| Illinois | $60,120 | 1,010 |
| Utah | $59,790 | 490 |
| North Dakota | $59,650 | 200 |
| Texas | $59,340 | 5,320 |
| Maine | $58,300 | 490 |
| Indiana | $58,170 | 1,380 |
| North Carolina | $58,080 | 2,110 |
| New Mexico | $57,990 | 660 |
| Louisiana | $57,840 | 470 |
| Massachusetts | $57,510 | 2,420 |
| South Dakota | $57,370 | 190 |
| Missouri | $57,050 | N/A |
| Nebraska | $56,800 | 230 |
| Michigan | $56,360 | 1,480 |
| Montana | $51,200 | 240 |
| Mississippi | $51,020 | 410 |
| Tennessee | $49,630 | 490 |
| Florida | $46,360 | N/A |
State median wages for health education specialists (SOC 21-1091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for health education specialists
The BLS projects employment of health education specialists to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 70,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 74,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 6,900 openings a year for health education specialists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a health education specialist
The typical entry-level education for health education specialists is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a health education specialist earns
Employer, license or certification, caseload, and region shape pay. Government agencies and clinical settings tend to pay above nonprofit and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Maryland, $104,470) and the lowest (Florida, $46,360) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 65,690 people work as health education specialists in the United States. At $64,070 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Health education specialist salary FAQ
How much does a health education specialist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a health education specialist is $30.80. The middle half of health education specialists earn between $24.34 and $41.89 per hour.
What is the highest health education specialist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of health education specialists earn more than $118,200 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a health education specialist make a year?
The median annual salary for a health education specialist is $64,070. The average (mean) wage of $73,280 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a health education specialist a well paid job?
At $64,070 a year, a health education specialist earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 65,690 people work as health education specialists in the United States.
Which state pays health education specialists the most?
Maryland has the highest median salary for health education specialists at $104,470 a year. District of Columbia ($103,330) and Georgia ($99,400) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a health education specialist a good career?
Employment of health education specialists is projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 6,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a health education specialist?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for health education specialists as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
Related salaries
See more in Community & Social Service salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.