How To Become A Wellness Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a wellness specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Amanda Barefield,

Grayson Lipford Ph.D.

Your job duties vary by employer. However, you will be tasked with educating clients. You'll provide them with current and accurate information on diet, exercise, and health. You'll meet with clients to determine their health wants and needs. After this, you'll establish programs to help clients attain their goals. Asides from that, you'll manage smoking cessation, weight loss, and exercise programs for clients. Also, you'll help clients locate medical services and health resources. Furthermore, you may create educational materials, gather data, and advocate for wellness programs.

Most employers require at least a bachelor's degree in health education or a related field. Some employers provide on-the-job training. Applicants must have communication, multitasking, organization, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Having relevant certifications is a plus. You may find jobs in medical facilities, government agencies, schools, fitness facilities, and nonprofit groups. Wellness specialists make an average gross salary of $43,439. This varies between $31,000 and $62,000.

What general advice would you give to a wellness specialist?

Amanda Barefield

Professor, Augusta University

Any experience is good experience, whether through an employer or as a volunteer. Don't isolate yourself to positions based on titles. Think "outside the box" and look at all job descriptions, keeping your skill set and experience in mind. Be willing to accept a position that may not be your dream job but will give you opportunities for future improvements. Always show enthusiasm to sit at the table and utilize your broad skill set in healthcare administration, even if that means volunteering for projects or committees.

ScoreWellness SpecialistUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $41,677

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.3

Growth rate 19%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 4.41%

Black or African American 10.48%

Hispanic or Latino 14.51%

Unknown 4.01%

White 65.88%

Gender

female 66.03%

male 33.97%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

5.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.8

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.7

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a wellness specialist

Explore wellness specialist education requirements

Most common wellness specialist degrees

Bachelor's

70.9 %

Master's

15.8 %

Associate

7.7 %

Start to develop specific wellness specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
CPR	15.30%
Mental Health	13.76%
Blood Pressure	6.59%
Community Resources	5.99%
Health Education	5.21%

Research wellness specialist duties and responsibilities

Prepare patients for tests by placing ECG leads and taking resting vitals.
Manage a fully operational wellness program with a wide range of modalities from monitoring heart rates, BMI's to nutrition/exercise.
Instruct a beginner yoga exercise class and stretching workout regimens.
Certify CPR instructor---Teaching students life saving skills in the presence of an emergency cardiac event.

Prepare your wellness specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your wellness specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a wellness specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable wellness specialist resume templates

Build a professional wellness specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your wellness specialist resume.