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Outreach worker vs community health worker

The differences between outreach workers and community health workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an outreach worker, becoming a community health worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an outreach worker has an average salary of $37,639, which is higher than the $37,079 average annual salary of a community health worker.

The top three skills for an outreach worker include social work, autism and patients. The most important skills for a community health worker are patients, community health, and social work.

Outreach worker vs community health worker overview

Outreach WorkerCommunity Health Worker
Yearly salary$37,639$37,079
Hourly rate$18.10$17.83
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs65,82282,445
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4343
Years of experience124

What does an outreach worker do?

An outreach worker is responsible for supporting community events and relief efforts to assist citizens with their needs, providing them resources, and facilitating lifestyle programs. Outreach workers coordinate with participants, suppliers, and sponsors for funding and promotions. They also manage the budgeting and allocation of resources for the programs, ensuring that the activities adhere to the state regulations and community benefits. An outreach worker must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing progress reports and transactions.

What does a community health worker do?

A community health worker is a health professional who is a lay member of the community that provides health care in both urban and rural environments. Community health workers offer the health needs of the community they serve and provide some direct services such as first aid and blood pressure screening. They help people understand their health conditions and deliver health information by using appropriate cultural terms and concepts. Community health workers also make home visits to patients who are clinically ill, pregnant women, and individuals at high risk of health problems.

Outreach worker vs community health worker salary

Outreach workers and community health workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Outreach WorkerCommunity Health Worker
Average salary$37,639$37,079
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $49,000Between $27,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNorth DakotaConnecticut
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkPacific Northwest National Laboratory
Best paying industryFinanceInsurance

Differences between outreach worker and community health worker education

There are a few differences between an outreach worker and a community health worker in terms of educational background:

Outreach WorkerCommunity Health Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at BinghamtonUniversity of Southern California

Outreach worker vs community health worker demographics

Here are the differences between outreach workers' and community health workers' demographics:

Outreach WorkerCommunity Health Worker
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 30.8% Female, 69.2%Male, 23.5% Female, 76.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 23.5% Asian, 6.2% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 5.8% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage11%21%

Differences between outreach worker and community health worker duties and responsibilities

Outreach worker example responsibilities.

  • Review and research leads regarding personal injury cases by obtaining information from the Medicaid recipient's attorney and insurance adjuster
  • Provide information and referral to patients regarding community resources and needs indicate, and advocate eliminating barriers to care.
  • Provide resources for the community regarding health care issues and rehabilitation.
  • Conduct client interviews clients to gather information, assess need, and determine appropriate Medicaid category of eligibility.
  • Assist patients in application process for medical programs and screen for appropriate medical coverage eligibility available through state programs.
  • Deliver direct services to children with autism by executing individualize plans, completing necessary documentation and communication effectively with team.
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Community health worker example responsibilities.

  • Lead process and counseling groups gear toward healing from both PTSD and substance dependence issues.
  • Manage large databases, analyze records, perform literature reviews, prepare PowerPoint presentations, and interpret data for publication.
  • Complete vitals on all patients and record vitals in EMR.
  • Train and educate professionals on HIV prevention and testing in the community.
  • Create program materials such as flyers, letters, banners, handouts, etc.
  • Assess asthma control by completing questionnaires during home visits and communicating this information via EMR.
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Outreach worker vs community health worker skills

Common outreach worker skills
  • Social Work, 13%
  • Autism, 9%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Crisis Intervention, 8%
  • Substance Abuse, 7%
  • Community Resources, 6%
Common community health worker skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Community Health, 12%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Community Resources, 7%
  • CHW, 5%
  • Social Services, 4%

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