Post job

Community health worker vs community worker

The differences between community health workers 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 worker and a community worker. Additionally, a community worker has an average salary of $40,029, which is higher than the $37,079 average annual salary of a community health worker.

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

Community health worker vs community worker overview

Community Health WorkerCommunity Worker
Yearly salary$37,079$40,029
Hourly rate$17.83$19.24
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs82,44546,201
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4343
Years of experience44

What does a community health worker do?

A community health worker is a health professional who is a lay member of the community that provides health care in both urban and rural environments. Community health workers offer the health needs of the community they serve and provide some direct services such as first aid and blood pressure screening. They help people understand their health conditions and deliver health information by using appropriate cultural terms and concepts. Community health workers also make home visits to patients who are clinically ill, pregnant women, and individuals at high risk of health problems.

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 worker vs community worker salary

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

Community Health WorkerCommunity Worker
Average salary$37,079$40,029
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $49,000Between $28,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Mateo, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutCalifornia
Best paying companyPacific Northwest National LaboratoryUniversity of Illinois Springfield
Best paying industryInsuranceEducation

Differences between community health worker and community worker education

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

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

Community health worker vs community worker demographics

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

Community Health WorkerCommunity Worker
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 23.5% Female, 76.5%Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 5.8% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%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 worker and community worker duties and responsibilities

Community health worker example responsibilities.

  • Lead process and counseling groups gear toward healing from both PTSD and substance dependence issues.
  • Manage large databases, analyze records, perform literature reviews, prepare PowerPoint presentations, and interpret data for publication.
  • Complete vitals on all patients and record vitals in EMR.
  • Train and educate professionals on HIV prevention and testing in the community.
  • Create program materials such as flyers, letters, banners, handouts, etc.
  • Assess asthma control by completing questionnaires during home visits and communicating this information via 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 worker vs community worker skills

Common community health worker skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Community Health, 12%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Community Resources, 7%
  • CHW, 5%
  • Social Services, 4%
Common community worker skills
  • Social Services, 12%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Financial Eligibility, 6%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Local Community, 5%

Browse community and social services jobs