If you are passionate about health and helping others, and want to share your knowledge for the greater good, you may be made for a career as a health educator. This is a fulfilling profession for anyone looking to make a difference in their community. Public health educators play a key role in keeping our populations healthy, teaching people about preventative care and helping them adopt healthy habits on a day-to-day basis. This career is undeniably, personally rewarding, but is it professionally? If you are wondering about the career path ahead, and the earning potential of health educators today, read on. As a public health college in Connecticut, Goodwin College outlines the health educator salary, along with the career requirements, below.
If you are considering pursuing a career as a public health educator, rest assured that you can enjoy a long and successful career. This role is a growing one. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects employment of health educators to grow 16% over the next several years. As long as we have human beings who need to be healthy, there will be a need for health educators around the world.
Show Me the Money
Now is the part where you say “OK, OK, but how can I expect to make as a health educator?” So here we will break down some must-know health educator salary information. Nationally, the average annual health educator salary is $59,660 per year (or, over $26 hourly). In Connecticut, however, health educators can earn even more.
According to the State of Connecticut Department of Labor, the mean wage for health educators in Connecticut is about $64,000 per year. On the entry-level end, public health educators in Connecticut can expect to earn closer to $38,000 per year, while those at the top of their game can earn over $106,000 annually. Because of the vital importance of this field, there is clear room for growth within health education. This is a job where you can enjoy the fruits of your labor and work in the health field, without spending eight or more years in college. Which brings us to your next question…
How Do You Land a Job as a Health Educator?
As it is with any great career, certain education and skill sets must be acquired before jumping in and getting paid. If you are looking to enjoy a successful career as a health educator, you will need to prepare yourself for the path ahead. The National Health Education Standards emphasize the importance of expertise in the following specific areas:
- Community Health
- Consumer Health
- Environmental Health
- Family Life
- Mental/Emotional Health
- Injury Prevention and Safety
- Nutrition
- Personal Health
- Prevention and Control of Disease
- Substance Use or Abuse
To become a health educator, you must be trained in the above topics, as well as meet the standards for competent employees within the following areas:
- Accessing pertinent health information
- Advocacy for others
- Decision-making
- Goal-setting
- Strong communication skills
- Understanding of these studies
According to the BLS, health educators need at least a bachelor’s degree before beginning their work as a public health educator. This is where a great undergraduate public health program, like the Bachelor’s degree in Public Health at Goodwin College, will help you reach your goals.
Unlike some other schools in the Nutmeg State, the admissions process at Goodwin College is a simple, 3-step process:
- Meet with our high school admissions officer. She will give you a campus tour, discuss the programs of interest (e.g. public health), and review the enrollment process with you.
- Pending SAT/ACT test scores – which are optional – Take a placement test and meet with an academic advisor for an applicant advisor appointment.
- Meet with a financial aid officer and create a personalized financial aid package that fits your needs.
Students enrolled in Goodwin College’s Bachelor’s of Public Health programs must complete a minimum of 46 credits in general education, in addition to 45 credits in the Public Health Major. Public health courses at Goodwin, at the bachelor’s level, include exciting courses in Epidemiology, Public Health Policy, Community Health, Health Behavior and Chronic Disease, as well as a hands-on internship working in the field. Click here to check out the Public Health curriculum at Goodwin College.
Aside from the classes and training, students wondering how to break into public health careers like that of the health educator can – and should – take advantage of Goodwin’s Career Services team and extensive network of employers. This team of experts provides students and graduates with a lifetime of career placement and counseling support — for free!
Learn more about the Public Health Program at Goodwin College by visiting Goodwin.edu or calling 1-800-889-3282.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.