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Health educator vs health coach

The differences between health educators and health coaches 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 health coach. Additionally, a health educator has an average salary of $42,570, which is higher than the $38,671 average annual salary of a health coach.

The top three skills for a health educator include public health, patients and community health. The most important skills for a health coach are customer service, patients, and optimal health.

Health educator vs health coach overview

Health EducatorHealth Coach
Yearly salary$42,570$38,671
Hourly rate$20.47$18.59
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs61,83263,129
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
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 health coach do?

A Health Coach is an individual health educator who provides lifestyle and behavior guidance. They work with clients to help them feel their best through food and lifestyle changes.

Health educator vs health coach salary

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

Health EducatorHealth Coach
Average salary$42,570$38,671
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $58,000Between $26,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCEureka, CA
Highest paying stateOregonAlaska
Best paying companyThe New York FoundlingMassachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between health educator and health coach education

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

Health EducatorHealth Coach
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorHealth EducationNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Health educator vs health coach demographics

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

Health EducatorHealth Coach
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 22.6% Female, 77.4%Male, 20.9% Female, 79.1%
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, 8.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 6.2% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage21%21%

Differences between health educator and health coach 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

Health coach example responsibilities.

  • Participate in workshops and offer lectures on various health topics, aim toward prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
  • Motivate staff to participate in lunch time yoga and strength training exercises as well as cooking demos and office nutrition trivia.
  • Promote, educate and assist individuals in health management including diabetes management, nutrition, stress management and tobacco cessation.
  • Obtain CPR certification before the summer program begin.
  • Maintain and control all hippa-relate patient documentation via EMR.
  • Perform all job duties in compliance with HIPAA guidelines and company confidentiality policies.
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Health educator vs health coach skills

Common health educator skills
  • Public Health, 12%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Community Health, 8%
  • Health Promotion, 6%
  • Health Education Programs, 3%
  • Diabetes, 3%
Common health coach skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Optimal Health, 11%
  • Disease Management, 6%
  • Ongoing Support, 5%
  • Nutrition Education, 5%

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