If you’re an educator and you’re looking for a specialty area that boasts jobs security, jobs in public health education constantly have a positive outlook. With constant advancements in the medical field and new community health initiatives being passed yearly, it’s no surprise that public health is one of those disciplines where graduates can easily find positions after they complete their degree. The surprise comes when students learn just how many different routes and specialties exist under the public health umbrella.
Some are taught that following their professional passion won’t pay off in the long run, especially when that passion is teaching. Fortunately, there are specialty areas where educators can earn a nice living, do what they love, and still enjoy job security. One of these specialty areas is in public health education. Here are some of the jobs students specializing in health education can pursue:
What is the Job Outlook in Public Health Education?
Public health education is and has been experiencing considerable job growth in the recent years. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, research shows the health educations and community health workers will enjoy 16 percent growth in the field. Even more interesting is that by the year 2026, as many as 19,200 new public health educator jobs will have been created. Compared the national averages, this is more than double the growth expected in other occupations.
What is the Primary Function of a Public Health Educator?
The entire purpose of a health educator that works in public health is to teach communities and the individuals living in them bow to change their habits in an effort to live the healthiest life possible. They may conduct research to determine the health needs and issues that are prevalent in the area and then will work to develop lessons and other strategies to improve these issues.
Research is common in the field and working directly with populations to develop programs and services is also common. Public health workers may also advocate for new legislation and work with healthcare products to report data collected while conducting research.
Various Job Titles Available to Health Educators
There are so many different places that health education specialists can work. Each setting might give educators and specialists a different title. For example, educators who work with patients and their families in a healthcare facility might be called patient advocates or navigators. In public health settings, there may be program initiatives in place run by public health researchers who work with educators to provide safety training in emergencies or even to help with programs on serious outbreaks.
Average Salary of Health Educators
The average salary reported for a community health educator is $53,940, according to the survey responses gathered by BLS. This is a national average of salaries for all professionals who work in hospitals, government agencies, outpatient centers, non-profits, and family service agencies.
Since some regions have higher pay and some settings offer higher averages, it’s hard to pinpoint how much you might earn. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top-paying states are DC, Maryland, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Hawaii, where the average pay is above $85,000 per year.
Related Resource: Top 10 Master’s in Epidemiology Degrees Online
Public health educators can earn their bachelor’s in the field to start their career. While some of the lower-level positions only require a bachelor’s, moving into a higher role will often require a graduate degree. Review your options and educational requirements to secure top-paying jobs in public health education.