Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for community outreach specialists in the United States
Community outreach specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected community outreach specialist job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 52,400 new jobs for community outreach specialists are projected over the next decade.
Community outreach specialist salaries have increased 13% for community outreach specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 5,315 community outreach specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 50,930 active community outreach specialist job openings in the US.
The average community outreach specialist salary is $44,425.
Are community outreach specialist jobs in demand?
Community outreach specialist job and salary trends over time
Community outreach specialist jobs over time
Community outreach specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,315 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,335 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 5,396 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 5,233 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 5,124 | 0.00% |
Average community outreach specialist salary over time
Community outreach specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $44,425 | $21.36 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $43,313 | $20.82 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $41,695 | $20.05 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $40,916 | $19.67 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $39,298 | $18.89 | +3.2% |
Community outreach specialist jobs by state
Most common states for community outreach specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 153 | 22% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 792 | 12% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 83 | 11% |
| 4 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 320 | 10% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 98 | 10% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 170 | 9% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 68 | 9% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 54 | 9% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 496 | 8% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 313 | 8% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 87 | 8% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 84 | 8% |
| 13 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 66 | 8% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 723 | 7% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 418 | 7% |
| 16 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 379 | 7% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 205 | 7% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 96 | 7% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 94 | 7% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 230 | 6% |
Most common cities for community outreach specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Englewood | 3 | 9% | $48,677 |
| 2 | Clermont | 1 | 3% | $46,193 |
| 3 | Lawrence | 2 | 2% | $52,067 |
| 4 | Baltimore | 7 | 1% | $43,726 |
| 5 | Buffalo | 3 | 1% | $49,957 |
| 6 | Jersey City | 2 | 1% | $59,553 |
| 7 | Orlando | 2 | 1% | $46,255 |
| 8 | New York | 4 | 0% | $51,257 |
| 9 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $51,700 |
| 10 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $69,699 |
| 11 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $53,833 |
| 12 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $49,313 |
| 13 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $48,668 |
| 14 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $37,899 |
| 15 | Birmingham | 1 | 0% | $37,541 |
| 16 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $52,369 |
| 17 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $48,688 |
Community Outreach Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of community outreach specialist experts
University of Houston - Downtown
Pennsylvania State University
Carolyn Gascoigne
Professor of French and HumanitiesUniversity of Houston - Downtown
Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
What Community Outreach Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Carolyn Gascoigne: Example A: Nonprofit coordinators are often involved with planning and organizing public outreach activities. This is a good profession to enter as international companies are increasingly looking to hire individuals to help them better understand and connect to their international markets. People who enjoy travel and interacting with others, and who are self-starters, tend to enjoy this field. It may be challenging otherwise.
Jessica Clontz
Assistant Teaching Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, Program Coordinator, HDFSPennsylvania State University
Human Development and Family Studies Department
What skills stand out on Community Outreach Specialist resumes?
Jessica Clontz: The skills employers are looking for include teamwork, leadership, creativity, and flexibility. Although many agencies have moved to a remote service delivery model, professionals are still working as a team to meet client needs effectively. Employers want leaders who are not afraid to take on responsibility and communicate assertively. Working in human services requires you to think on your feet... a lot! Being creative will allow you to meet clients where they are instead of where you want them to be. The pandemic has made flexibility a necessary skill for all human service professionals. Schedules and activities can change at a moment's notice; therefore, you must be able to quickly adapt.
What soft skills should all Community Outreach Specialists possess?
Jessica Clontz: Although the pandemic has changed much of how the human services field functions, the most important skills remain the same: compassion, empathy, creativity, maintaining personal wellness, and holding space for others. With millions of people grieving sudden deaths of loved ones, professionals will need to be prepared to be a witness and hold space for that grief. To avoid compassion fatigue and burnout, it will be helpful for professionals (and employers!) to make personal wellbeing a priority and encourage a balance between work and other fulfilling endeavors.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Community Outreach Specialists?
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 Outreach Specialists earn the most?
Jessica Clontz: The ones you continue to strengthen and grow.