U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics CHW Occupational Outlook
| Quick Facts: Community Health Workers | |
|---|---|
| 2022 Median Pay | $46,190 per year $22.21 per hour |
| Typical Entry-Level Education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation | None |
| On-the-job Training | Short-term on-the-job training |
| Number of Jobs, 2022 | 67,200 |
| Job Outlook, 2022-32 | 14% (Much faster than average) |
| Employment Change, 2022-32 | 9,400 |
What Community Health Workers Do
Community health workers promote wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviors. They implement programs and advocate for people who may have limited access to health resources and social services.
Work Environment
Community health workers are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, public health departments, and community-based organizations. Most work full time.
How to Become a Community Health Worker
To enter the occupation, community health workers typically need at least a high school diploma; some employers prefer to hire candidates who have postsecondary education. To attain competency, they typically complete a brief period of on-the-job training, and some states require certification.
Pay
The median annual wage for community health workers was $46,190 in May 2022.
Job Outlook
Employment of community health workers is projected to grow 14 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 8,000 openings for community health workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for community health workers.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of community health workers with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about community health workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.