Post job

Health educator vs health promotion specialist

The differences between health educators and health promotion specialists 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 promotion specialist. Additionally, a health educator has an average salary of $42,570, which is higher than the $40,198 average annual salary of a health promotion specialist.

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

Health educator vs health promotion specialist overview

Health EducatorHealth Promotion Specialist
Yearly salary$42,570$40,198
Hourly rate$20.47$19.33
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs61,83256,898
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
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 promotion specialist do?

A health promotion specialist is responsible for promoting programs targeted at improving public health. They may also be known as a health care practitioner. They organize and manage health improvement programs. Furthermore, they raise awareness for good health, diet, and exercise through training and workshops. They are responsible for coming up with good health policies and schemes to assess health needs. They will also be expected to give advice and inform people on matters related to health. Therefore, they should be up to date with current trends in health promotion.

Health educator vs health promotion specialist salary

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

Health EducatorHealth Promotion Specialist
Average salary$42,570$40,198
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $58,000Between $28,000 And $56,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCRichmond, CA
Highest paying stateOregonCalifornia
Best paying companyThe New York FoundlingColumbia University in the City of New York
Best paying industryEducationNon Profits

Differences between health educator and health promotion specialist education

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

Health EducatorHealth Promotion Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorHealth EducationHealth Education
Most common collegeUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Florida

Health educator vs health promotion specialist demographics

Here are the differences between health educators' and health promotion specialists' demographics:

Health EducatorHealth Promotion Specialist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 22.6% Female, 77.4%Male, 19.9% Female, 80.1%
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, 9.7% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage21%21%

Differences between health educator and health promotion specialist 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 promotion specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage overall time off processing and reporting as it relates to FMLA and disability programs.
  • Coordinate and develop individual exercise prescription, independently complete monthly progress reports for physician efficiently in a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation setting.
  • Develop recipes and menu plans to accommodate multiple food allergies.
  • Create custom meal plans for diabetics, food allergies and other conditions.
  • Provide case management of enrollee participation to ensure completion of schedule mammograms and cervical testing.

Health educator vs health promotion specialist skills

Common health educator skills
  • Public Health, 12%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Community Health, 8%
  • Health Promotion, 6%
  • Health Education Programs, 3%
  • Diabetes, 3%
Common health promotion specialist skills
  • Public Health, 21%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • Health Promotion Programs, 5%
  • Health Fairs, 5%
  • Program Development, 4%
  • Wellness Programs, 4%

Browse community and social services jobs