What Is Community Health Education? Roles, Careers, and Impact

Many people are drawn to the healthcare field because they want to make a positive difference in others' lives. Some professionals do this by providing bedside care as nurses, while others work behind the scenes to enhance healthcare systems through roles in informatics or healthcare administration. Community health educators make an impact by empowering individuals and communities to take charge of their own health. Through education, outreach, and community engagement, they help people gain the skills and resources needed for healthier lives.  

What Is Community Health? 

Community health focuses on improving the well-being of groups of people who live in the same geographic area or share common characteristics. Instead of concentrating solely on individual treatment, community health workers seek to understand patterns that impact entire populations. Their work helps identify shared challenges, reduce barriers, and improve access to care. 

Community health workers recognize that health is shaped by many factors beyond biology alone. Social determinants of health, including economic stability, transportation, nutrition, and access to resources, play a significant role in health outcomes.   

What Do Community Health Educators Do? 

Community health educators work to improve health literacy within communities. They teach people how to find, understand, and apply health information in everyday situations. Health educators can work in many different settings, including public health departments, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, clinics, schools, and corporations.  

No matter where they're employed, community health educators typically begin by assessing the target community's needs and identifying factors that influence their overall health. They may collect and analyze data from surveys, interviews, focus groups, electronic health records, disease registries, and other databases. This thorough review helps them identify gaps in health information, available resources, and existing services.  

Using data-driven insights, community health educators develop customized health education programs to meet the population's specific needs. Examples of these community-based education initiatives include: 

• Parenting classes and workshops for first-time parents
• Infant safety and CPR training courses
• Diabetes prevention and management workshops 
• Substance abuse prevention programs
• Nutrition and healthy cooking classes
• Youth mental health programs
• Vaccination education campaigns 
• Resource navigation programs 
• Community health fairs
• Social media health education initiatives
• Disease prevention programs 

Career Outlook for Health Educator Jobs 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), health education specialists, including community health educators, have a median annual salary of $63,000. Several factors can affect salary, including location, type of employer, experience level, and educational background.

The BLS projects that the employment of all health education specialists will grow by 4% from 2024 to 2034. There will be approximately 7,900 openings for health education specialists each year throughout the decade. 

Why Community Health Education Matters 

Community health education is essential for reducing health disparities, which are differences in health outcomes linked to factors such as income, education, and geographic location. These disparities develop over time as individuals and communities face barriers that limit access to health information, resources, and services. For example, lack of insurance and high out-of-pocket costs can discourage people from seeking necessary care, while transportation challenges can make medical appointments difficult to attend. In addition, technological barriers such as low digital literacy and limited internet access can make it hard to find and use health-related resources.

By facilitating access to clear, practical health information, community health professionals help address these challenges and promote greater health equity. For example, a community health educator may partner with a local clinic to organize mobile health screening events that bring preventive care directly to community members. Or, a health educator may lead health insurance enrollment workshops to help individuals understand their coverage options and complete enrollment paperwork.

Community health educators further advance health equity by helping bridge cultural differences between health systems and the communities they serve. By practicing cultural sensitivity and honoring community values, educators can foster better trust and engagement with services. For example, when working with immigrant communities, health educators may explain health information in culturally respectful ways, provide translated materials, and offer support to individuals navigating unfamiliar health systems.

Making an Impact on Communities 

Public health and community health education share the goal of improving population health, but they approach this goal in different ways. Public health focuses on large-scale research, data analysis, and policy development. In contrast, community health education centers on educating and empowering individuals at the community level. In other words, community health educators make a meaningful impact on communities by translating public health goals into community-level action. 

Research shows that community-based health education programs can enhance health knowledge, encourage healthier behaviors, and improve utilization of preventive services in underserved populations. A 2024 literature review found that community-based health education initiatives led to a 42% increase in preventive care use, a 45% rise in planned primary care visits, and a 30% reduction in emergency department visits.

How Can You Become a Community Health Educator? 

Becoming a community health educator typically begins with earning a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as public health or health and human services. These programs equip students with the foundational knowledge needed to develop and implement health education initiatives at the community level. 

Many community health educators pursue graduate-level education to advance their careers and qualify for leadership positions. A master's degree in public health or healthcare administration can prepare professionals for roles focused on systems-level program coordination and implementation.

Professional credentials can further demonstrate expertise in the field of community health education. The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) is a nationally recognized credential offered through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Earning this designation can help professionals qualify for health educator jobs with greater responsibilities and higher pay. 

Build Skills for Community-Focused Health Careers with WGU

If you’re interested in improving health outcomes through education and community engagement, an accredited healthcare degree from WGU can help you take the next step. WGU’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Services build foundational skills in value-based care systems, community health strategies, health equity, cultural awareness, and other essential subjects.   

For individuals aiming to advance into leadership roles, WGU offers a Master of Public Health and a Master of Healthcare Administration. These programs equip students with advanced competencies in healthcare management, health services research, health education and promotion, and program planning. Speak to an Enrollment Counselor to learn more about how WGU can help you achieve your professional goals.