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Job outlook for community health advocates in the United States
Community health advocate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected community health advocate job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 15,200 new jobs for community health advocates are projected over the next decade.
Community health advocate salaries have increased 13% for community health advocates in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,811 community health advocates currently employed in the United States.
There are 67,964 active community health advocate job openings in the US.
The average community health advocate salary is $34,784.
Are community health advocate jobs in demand?
Community health advocate job and salary trends over time
Community health advocate jobs over time
Community health advocate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,811 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,550 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 6,581 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 6,266 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 6,113 | 0.00% |
Average community health advocate salary over time
Community health advocate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $34,784 | $16.72 | +4.1% |
| 2025 | $33,426 | $16.07 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $32,747 | $15.74 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $31,778 | $15.28 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $30,916 | $14.86 | +2.8% |
Community health advocate jobs by state
Most common states for community health advocates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 209 | 30% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,269 | 18% |
| 3 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,104 | 17% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 941 | 17% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,142 | 15% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 473 | 15% |
| 7 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 952 | 14% |
| 8 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 239 | 14% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 130 | 14% |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 770 | 13% |
| 11 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 660 | 13% |
| 12 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 379 | 13% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 74 | 13% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,194 | 12% |
| 15 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,177 | 12% |
| 16 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 745 | 12% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 340 | 12% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 127 | 12% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 101 | 12% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 94 | 12% |
Most common cities for community health advocates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingsport | 2 | 4% | $33,572 |
| 2 | Bristol | 2 | 3% | $45,908 |
| 3 | Johnson City | 2 | 3% | $33,520 |
| 4 | Flint | 2 | 2% | $37,545 |
| 5 | Alexandria | 1 | 2% | $33,020 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | 1 | 1% | $36,252 |
| 7 | Chattanooga | 1 | 1% | $32,963 |
| 8 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $45,931 |
| 9 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $36,601 |
| 10 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $35,684 |
| 11 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $31,868 |
Community Health Advocate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of community health advocate experts
Michigan Technological University
University of Akron
University of South Florida
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Pennsylvania State University
What general advice would you give to a Community Health Advocate?
Tayler Haapapuro MS: Preventative health measures, educating people on the importance of movement, interpersonal skills and the ability to explain to clients and patients their health. Having a deep understanding of anatomy, physiology, & biomechanics and how it relates to daily health.
What will help Community Health Advocates increase their earning potential?
Tayler Haapapuro MS: Take advantage of the connections you've made during your undergraduate degree. Professionals that you've met shadowing, interning, at conferences can all help you and guide you. Don't be afraid to continue your education through certifications and conferences. There is always more to learn and it can make you even more marketable, and will help you expand your connections.
What Community Health Advocate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Melissa Smith MS, CHES, NBC-HWC: Health and wellness coaching skills continue to gain incredible momentum in the health care industry and many other professional fields. Treat every patient/client relationship as a partnership: you are the expert in your field and they are the expert on their life. Behavior change that stems from strength-base approaches that allow the client/patient to take ownership of their plan increases long-term compliance tremendously. Additionally, insurance billing skills may become more important and prevalent in the field as (hopefully) efforts to expand current procedural terminology” or “CPT” codes for Qualified Exercise Professionals (QEPs) are successful.
What will help Community Health Advocates increase their earning potential?
Melissa Smith MS, CHES, NBC-HWC: There is a two-pronged approach I recommend to maximizing salary potential as a new graduate: 1) expand your professional network and 2) pursue additional certifications in areas of interest. Ways to expand your professional network are to leverage your LinkedIn account to connect to professionals you meet at work and at professional conferences. Volunteer to serve on committees to organize community events related to your work, such as fundraising events put on by the American Heart Association (e.g., Heartwalk) or American Cancer Society (e.g., Relay for Life), or a local health fair. As you discover your strengths in the workplace, pursue additional certifications to enhance your qualifications.
What general advice would you give to a Community Health Advocate?
Maureen Chiodini-Rinaldo: God gave you two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you talk. Remain open-minded and stay in touch with your mentors. We should always be learning. Find your path and your niche by doing what makes you happy. Don't chase the money. If you are happy and doing what you love and are passionate about, the money will come.
What Community Health Advocate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Maureen Chiodini-Rinaldo: Technology is paramount but must also be matched with interpersonal communication skills. There will always be people who want and need personal interaction to achieve their success. Work hard to hone your 'coaching' skills so that you can assist people in achieving their success. Remember, people are created whole and complete with the ability to solve their problems. Often, we lose our innate ability due to experiences. Help people resurrect that innate ability to be healthy. Remember, it is their story, not yours. Additionally, we must be more proactive in using data and analytics. We wear watches that capture so much information, but do we even know whether they are accurate and what to do with the data? Artificial intelligence is coming on strong. How can we use it to enhance people's health? How can we use it to help our businesses?
Dr. Wendy Huddleston
Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Director, Associate ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Communication Disorders Sciences And Services
What general advice would you give to a Community Health Advocate?
Dr. Wendy Huddleston: Interprofessional teamwork, cultural humility, flexibility, and innovation will be the keys to a successful future in health and wellness. Healthcare in the US is going to change significantly in the next decade. Methods of delivery, including more telehealth/telecommunications, and the use of AI in clinical practice are some examples.
What Community Health Advocate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Wendy Huddleston: Be able to identify what differentiates you from other new graduates. Examples might include being able to speak a second language, being mobile, having flexibility in work hours and/or work locations, or having leadership experience of any kind. You'll want to add skills to your resume, not just experience.
What will help Community Health Advocates increase their earning potential?
Dr. Wendy Huddleston: Treat clients and patients as individuals with unique lived experiences. They can teach you as much or more than what you learned in a classroom. Seek out and volunteer for new experiences. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Recognize the experience of others but know that you bring the value of new knowledge and a fresh perspective.
Jessica Clontz
Assistant Teaching Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, Program Coordinator, HDFSPennsylvania State University
Human Development and Family Studies Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Community Health Advocates?
Jessica Clontz: The pandemic forced us to redesign service delivery; therefore, professionals will need to demonstrate proficiency in tech skills such as setting up and hosting a teleconference, helping clients navigate online services, and leveraging social media for your agency. Although marketing on social media is not usually what professionals in the human services field expect to be doing, it is a necessary component among thriving organizations. Cultivating an engaging presence on social media and other platforms helps reach more people who may be in need of your services.
What skills will help Community Health Advocates earn the most?
Jessica Clontz: The ones you continue to strengthen and grow.