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Community health navigator vs community worker

The differences between community health navigators and community workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a community health navigator and a community worker. Additionally, a community health navigator has an average salary of $40,561, which is higher than the $40,029 average annual salary of a community worker.

The top three skills for a community health navigator include patients, social work and mental health. The most important skills for a community worker are social services, mental health, and rehabilitation.

Community health navigator vs community worker overview

Community Health NavigatorCommunity Worker
Yearly salary$40,561$40,029
Hourly rate$19.50$19.24
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs61,43946,201
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4343
Years of experience44

What does a community health navigator do?

Community health navigators are health coordinators that connect people to medical providers and community resources. They help patients in enhancing their mental, physical, and social health as well as assist them in developing a definite care plan. Their duties include assisting in prescribing optimal health care to patients, coordinating patient care from care providers, and negotiating the health care system. Also, they connect patients to community resources such as food, clothing, affordable housing, and transportation.

What does a community worker do?

Community workers are individuals who work with families or social communities to help promote or restore the social functioning of a community. These workers must promote social justice and maximizing human potential while advocating the rights of individuals and community groups. They must have the skills and flexibility to work with multiple client groups to assess and evaluate community projects and programs. Community workers must also work for non-profit organizations, government, and private sectors to provide human services.

Community health navigator vs community worker salary

Community health navigators and community workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Community Health NavigatorCommunity Worker
Average salary$40,561$40,029
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $55,000Between $28,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CASan Mateo, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaCalifornia
Best paying companyPioneers Memorial Healthcare DistrictUniversity of Illinois Springfield
Best paying industryInsuranceEducation

Differences between community health navigator and community worker education

There are a few differences between a community health navigator and a community worker in terms of educational background:

Community Health NavigatorCommunity Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaNorthwestern University

Community health navigator vs community worker demographics

Here are the differences between community health navigators' and community workers' demographics:

Community Health NavigatorCommunity Worker
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 19.7% Female, 80.3%Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.6% Asian, 5.3% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 22.9% Asian, 6.2% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage21%21%

Differences between community health navigator and community worker duties and responsibilities

Community health navigator example responsibilities.

  • Lead process and counseling groups gear toward healing from both PTSD and substance dependence issues.
  • Utilize EpicCare EMR software to access patients' medical chart as needed according to HIPAA regulations.
  • Exhibit sensitivity and compassion to patients diagnose with breast cancer.
  • Update EMR with most recent information.
  • Coordinate other agencies across the country that assist veterans.
  • Assist to design and implement center-wide mammography tracking process in EMR.
  • Show more

Community worker example responsibilities.

  • Prepare patients for abortion procedures; assist doctor and perform ultrasounds during procedures; support women physically and emotionally after abortions.
  • Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.

Community health navigator vs community worker skills

Common community health navigator skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Community Health, 7%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Care Coordination, 4%
Common community worker skills
  • Social Services, 12%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Financial Eligibility, 6%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Local Community, 5%

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