Community Health Workers

Community health workers serve as vital links between residents and healthcare providers or social service agencies. Their daily activities focus on assisting and caring for others, performing services directly with the public, and getting information to identify community needs. They act as advocates, helping people communicate their health needs and implementing programs to improve overall community wellness. Some workers also deliver preventive services, such as screening blood pressure, hearing, or glaucoma, and collect data to pinpoint local health requirements.

To succeed in this role, individuals need strong social interests and a focus on service orientation. Key skills include active listening, social perceptiveness, speaking, and critical thinking. Workers must document information accurately and solve complex problems. This career requires knowledge in areas such as customer and personal service, psychology, therapy and counseling, medicine, and the English language. Essential work styles for this role include empathy, cooperation, dependability, optimism, and sincerity.

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the typical minimum education required to enter this field is a high school diploma, O*NET data indicates that most workers in this occupation need a bachelor's degree along with several years of related experience.

Students preparing for this career often choose college majors such as public health, mental and social health services, general health services, health professions education, or public relations and applied communication. Depending on where you plan to work, licensing may be a factor, as some states list a license for this occupation.

In 2025, the median annual pay for community health workers was $51,850. Earnings can vary based on experience and location; the lowest 10% of workers in this field earn less than $38,810, while the highest 10% earn more than $77,180.

There are 61,660 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 12.7%, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in approximately 7,000 job openings each year.