Health education specialists
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Health education specialists in the United States earn a median salary of $64,070 per year — about $31 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 72K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +4%.
AI & Automation Risk
A significant portion of the role involves digital knowledge work such as analyzing community health data, writing grant proposals, and creating educational materials, all of which are highly susceptible to AI augmentation. However, the core requirements of community advocacy, empathetic interpersonal interaction, and physical presence for local events and training provide a buffer against full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVBEST VALUE | $124,590 | Above avg (109.5) | $113,736 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $112,450 | Average (100.5) | $111,912 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $102,680 | Average (102.4) | $100,256 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $83,200 | Below avg (89.3) | $93,168 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $94,870 | Above avg (103.5) | $91,623 |
| Charleston, WV | $80,850 | Below avg (89.1) | $90,784 |
| Lancaster, PA | $87,190 | Below avg (96.8) | $90,115 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $77,950 | Below avg (87.6) | $89,026 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $80,840 | Below avg (92.3) | $87,552 |
| Rochester, MN | $80,960 | Below avg (93.0) | $87,093 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $84,070 | Below avg (97.0) | $86,692 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,260 | Above avg (117.6) | $84,440 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $76,400 | Below avg (91.2) | $83,732 |
| Huntsville, AL | $78,400 | Below avg (93.8) | $83,574 |
| Madison, WI | $79,910 | Below avg (95.9) | $83,297 |