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Health educator vs community health educator

The differences between health educators and community health educators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a health educator and a community health educator. Additionally, a community health educator has an average salary of $43,889, which is higher than the $42,570 average annual salary of a health educator.

The top three skills for a health educator include public health, patients and community health. The most important skills for a community health educator are patients, public health, and health promotion.

Health educator vs community health educator overview

Health EducatorCommunity Health Educator
Yearly salary$42,570$43,889
Hourly rate$20.47$21.10
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs61,83266,731
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4343
Years of experience44

What does a health educator do?

A health educator is responsible for promoting a healthy lifestyle and wellness by developing programs and practices to improve an individual's physical, emotional, and mental condition, recommending a various approach to deal with stress and anxiety, and other situations affecting the clients' behaviors. Health educators record the clients' progress, educate them about healthy strategies and approaches, and coordinate with other health specialists and medical professionals on disseminating health information. A health educator must have excellent communication skills, especially during public speaking and seminars for health education programs.

What does a community health educator do?

A community health educator promotes health and wellness to a community through various health programs. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing data to identify the community's needs, researching and planning activities, liaising with internal and external partners, developing health programs and activities, answering health inquiries, providing advice, and presenting educational materials to the community. They also serve as the link between healthcare services and specialists. Moreover, a community health educator must train and manage staff to provide optimal services to the community.

Health educator vs community health educator salary

Health educators and community health educators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health EducatorCommunity Health Educator
Average salary$42,570$43,889
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $58,000Between $32,000 And $59,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWest Hollywood, CA
Highest paying stateOregonCalifornia
Best paying companyThe New York FoundlingUniversity of Massachusetts Boston
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between health educator and community health educator education

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

Health EducatorCommunity Health Educator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorHealth EducationHealth Education
Most common collegeUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Florida

Health educator vs community health educator demographics

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

Health EducatorCommunity Health Educator
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 22.6% Female, 77.4%Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 6.8% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 6.2% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage21%21%

Differences between health educator and community health educator duties and responsibilities

Health educator example responsibilities.

  • Manage day-to-day evolving aspects of the HHS Zika virus response.
  • Engage with members' telephonically, using motivational interviewing techniques to assist members' in achieving their health goals.
  • Work with an interdisciplinary staff within HHS and across other federal agencies.
  • Support of Norton patients by telephone providing information for community resources for new mothers and providing medical counseling concerning their prenatal/postnatal condition
  • Recertify in CPR and first aid training
  • Enroll medical entities to receive NYC DOHMH quarterly report/semi-annual report profiling epidemic of HIV/AIDS in NYC.
  • Show more

Community health educator example responsibilities.

  • Engage with members' telephonically, using motivational interviewing techniques to assist members' in achieving their health goals.
  • Educate low-income populations as to proper nutrition on a budget in an effort to reduce diabetes and obesity rates.
  • Educate local community via verbal presentations on nutrition guidelines and neonatal screenings by creating PowerPoint presentations and visual aids.
  • Provide case management of enrollee participation to ensure completion of schedule mammograms and cervical testing.

Health educator vs community health educator skills

Common health educator skills
  • Public Health, 12%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Community Health, 8%
  • Health Promotion, 6%
  • Health Education Programs, 3%
  • Diabetes, 3%
Common community health educator skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Public Health, 9%
  • Health Promotion, 9%
  • Community Outreach, 6%
  • Disease Prevention, 6%
  • Community Health Education, 5%

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