October 01, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Health educators

Health educators promote wellness and healthy lifestyles. Covering a wide range of topics, these workers teach individuals and communities about behaviors that encourage healthy living and prevent diseases and other problems.

[Chart data—TXT]

Health educators held 57,900 jobs in May 2006. Median annual wages of health educators were $41,330. The highest earning 10 percent made more than $72,500, and the lowest earning 10 percent made less than $24,750.

The specific duties of health educators vary by work setting. But whether they work in a hospital, school, business, or other setting, all health educators use similar skills and tools. In general, health educators begin by assessing their audience and planning a program that suits its needs. Then, they implement the program and evaluate its success.

A bachelor’s degree is generally the minimum requirement for an entry-level health educator position. However, some employers may prefer to hire people who have a bachelor’s degree plus related experience from an internship or volunteer work. A master’s degree in health education or a related field is usually required for higher level positions or to work in public health.

These data are from the Occupational Employment Statistics program. For more information, see "Health educators: Working for wellness," by Colleen Teixeira, Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Summer 2007.