How to hire a diabetes educator

How to hire a diabetes educator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step diabetes educator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a diabetes educator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new diabetes educator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a diabetes educator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a diabetes educator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A diabetes educator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, diabetes educators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents diabetes educator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Diabetes Educator	Description	Hourly rate
   Diabetes Educator	Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop and implement strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities... Show more	$21-38
   Health Promoter	A health promoter has a myriad of responsibilities. They may be expected to promote medical services, information on topics like maternal health and hygiene, or information on malnutrition, malaria, HIV/AIDS, or other common but worrisome diseases... Show more	$12-26
   Public Health Analyst	A public health analyst is responsible for evaluating health care policies and programs of medical institutions and government agencies, identifying process improvement and cost-reduction techniques without sacrificing quality care services for the citizens. Public health analysts develop medical initiatives and adjust the requirements of existing programs as needed depending on public needs and the current climate... Show more	$20-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • CDE
   • Patient Care
   • Diabetes Self-Management Education
   • Patient Education
   • RD
   • Blood Glucose
   • Health Education
   • Medical Nutrition Therapy
   • Educational Materials
   • Community Health
   • Gestational Diabetes
   • Healthcare Professionals
   • Community Resources

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Used motivational interviewing techniques to engage participants and achieve enrollment into program.
   • Develop, plan implement diabetes education self-management program for diabetics.
   • Instruct classes and one-to-one consultations to provide patients with basic, intermediate, advance and gestational diabetes information.
   • Educate patients on dietary management including carbohydrate counting, label reading, meal planning and information regarding dietary fats.
   • Perform test counseling for HIV and other STIs.
   • Serve as the main instructor for the DSME program.

   More diabetes educator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your diabetes educator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A diabetes educator salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a diabetes educator in Arkansas may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level diabetes educator usually earns less than a senior-level diabetes educator. Additionally, a diabetes educator with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average diabetes educator salary

   $60,588yearly

   $29.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level diabetes educator salary

   $44,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average diabetes educator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$84,549	$41
   2	Virginia	$73,896	$36
   3	Maryland	$73,599	$35
   4	New Hampshire	$72,696	$35
   5	Indiana	$72,467	$35
   6	California	$70,270	$34
   7	Washington	$68,232	$33
   8	Oregon	$65,178	$31
   9	North Carolina	$62,250	$30
   10	New York	$60,421	$29
   11	Iowa	$59,115	$28
   12	Oklahoma	$57,322	$28
   13	Georgia	$57,297	$28
   14	Illinois	$56,381	$27
   15	Colorado	$56,306	$27
   16	Alabama	$55,352	$27
   17	Missouri	$53,429	$26
   18	Tennessee	$50,917	$24
   19	Texas	$50,627	$24
   20	Florida	$41,662	$20

   Average diabetes educator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Baptist Health Care	$112,763	$54.21
   2	Providence Health & Services	$109,970	$52.87	10
   3	Sharecare	$107,969	$51.91
   4	Dignity Health	$105,879	$50.90	8
   5	Novo Nordisk	$104,213	$50.10
   6	Kaiser Permanente	$97,340	$46.80	29
   7	Baylor Scott & White Health	$96,635	$46.46	6
   8	Appalachian Regional Healthcare	$92,167	$44.31	2
   9	St. Mary's Health Inc.	$89,228	$42.90
   10	Tenet Healthcare	$89,219	$42.89	14
   11	CovenantHealth	$87,443	$42.04	2
   12	The Midland Group	$86,877	$41.77	2
   13	University of Maryland Medical System	$85,551	$41.13	22
   14	SwedishAmerican	$85,069	$40.90
   15	Piedmont Healthcare	$84,133	$40.45	2
   16	South Georgia Medical Center	$83,976	$40.37
   17	PeaceHealth	$81,323	$39.10	4
   18	Sutter Health	$81,147	$39.01	19
   19	Southern New Hampshire Health	$80,034	$38.48
   20	Legacy Health	$79,202	$38.08	3

4. Writing a diabetes educator job description

   A diabetes educator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a diabetes educator job description:

   Diabetes educator job description example

   The IUHP Diabetes Centers presents an opportunity for diverse learning and growth. This role will be primarily for inpatient diabetes education at IU West. Ample orientation and training will be provided on site along with continuous team support. This position works day shift, Monday-Friday from 8am-4:30pm.
   
   IU Health West Hospital is a full-service hospital located in Avon, Indiana. We serve the residents of the Indianapolis west side, Hendricks County and beyond. Our magnet designated hospital specializes in life-threatening, emergent, and non-emergent conditions.
   
   At IU Health West care is a relationship, careers are meaningful, caregivers are friends, and service is our privilege. If you are seeking an organization where you can engage expertly, develop clinical expertise, embrace learning, cultivate new relationships, and fuel your spirit of inquiry, join us as we fulfill Our Promise of 'The Best Care, Designed for you!"
   We offer medical, dental, vision, 401K, a generous PTO plan and tuition reimbursement!
   
   Using the nursing process, the Patient Educator works with patients and community members while using clinical experience to create effective treatment strategies and help people make healthy lifestyle choices. Responsibilities include explaining treatment and procedures, conducting health screenings, and educating the community on ways to improve health or prevent disease. Populations served by the department are identified in the department's scope of service.
   
   Requires an Associates of Nursing (ASN); Bachelors of Nursing (BSN) preferred.
   
   * Requires current state of Indiana license as Registered Nurse.
   * Requires that the RN has graduated from a nationally accredited nursing program.
   * Requires Basic Life Support certification through the AHA. Other advanced life support certifications may be required per unit/department specialty according to patient care policies.
   * May require specialty certification
   
   #LI-SL1
   
   Safeguarding our patients and each other is an important part of how we deliver the best care possible to the communities we serve. As a condition of employment, IU Health requires all new hires to receive various vaccinations, including the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, barring an approved exemption. New hires will also be provided the option to submit proof of previous vaccination.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at IU Health. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right diabetes educator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your diabetes educator job on Zippia to find and recruit diabetes educator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit diabetes educators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new diabetes educator

   Once you've selected the best diabetes educator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new diabetes educator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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