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Health teacher vs health educator

The differences between health teachers and health educators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a health teacher, becoming a health educator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a health teacher has an average salary of $115,558, which is higher than the $42,570 average annual salary of a health educator.

The top three skills for a health teacher include classroom management, student learning and professional development. The most important skills for a health educator are public health, patients, and community health.

Health teacher vs health educator overview

Health TeacherHealth Educator
Yearly salary$115,558$42,570
Hourly rate$55.56$20.47
Growth rate5%12%
Number of jobs103,44861,832
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4343
Years of experience24

What does a health teacher do?

A health teacher is a subject teacher in an elementary, middle, or high school. They teach students topics ranging from good hygiene to the effects of drug abuse and the importance of physical fitness. They may also be required to teach students animal reproduction as well, including showing students around a farm to show them how milk is produced and where eggs come from.

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.

Health teacher vs health educator salary

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

Health TeacherHealth Educator
Average salary$115,558$42,570
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $216,000Between $30,000 And $58,000
Highest paying CityBaltimore, MDWashington, DC
Highest paying stateMarylandOregon
Best paying companyBaylor College of MedicineThe New York Foundling
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between health teacher and health educator education

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

Health TeacherHealth Educator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorHealth EducationHealth Education
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityUniversity of Florida

Health teacher vs health educator demographics

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

Health TeacherHealth Educator
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 41.5% Female, 58.5%Male, 22.6% Female, 77.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage12%21%

Differences between health teacher and health educator duties and responsibilities

Health teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead professional development for colleagues on integrating graphing calculators into the curriculum.
  • Coach varsity and junior varsity basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, and baseball teams.
  • Coach cross country and volleyball teams.
  • Progress notes, IEP updates complete on NYS electronic medical records system.
  • Coach football in the fall and girls softball in the spring semester.
  • Provide afterschool tutorial sessions and electives in science, mathematics and the arts.
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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.
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Health teacher vs health educator skills

Common health teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 20%
  • Student Learning, 8%
  • Professional Development, 8%
  • K-12, 6%
  • Public Schools, 5%
  • Instructional Materials, 4%
Common health educator skills
  • Public Health, 12%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Community Health, 8%
  • Health Promotion, 6%
  • Health Education Programs, 3%
  • Diabetes, 3%

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