What Does it Take to Be a Community Health Worker?
Job Description: Assist individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. Conduct outreach for medical personnel or health organizations to implement programs in the community that promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health. May provide information on available resources, provide social support and informal counseling, advocate for individuals and community health needs, and provide services such as first aid and blood pressure screening. May collect data to help identify community health needs.
Daily Life Of a Community Health Worker
- Provide basic health services, such as first aid.
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to sanitation or hygiene, such as flossing or hand washing.
- Conduct home visits for pregnant women, newborn infants, or other high-risk individuals to monitor their progress or assess their needs.
- Advise clients or community groups to ensure parental understanding of the importance of childhood immunizations and how to access immunization services.
- Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
- Collect information from individuals to compile vital statistics about the general health of community members.
Featured schools near , edit
Community Health Worker Needed Skills
Community Health Workers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Related Job Titles
- Community Health Counselor
- Community Health Advocate
- Public Health Worker
- Mental Health Advocate
- Community Health Navigator
Is There Job Demand for Community Health Workers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 57,500 jobs in the United States for Community Health Worker. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 17.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 10,300 new jobs for Community Health Worker by 2026. The BLS estimates 8,500 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Community Health Worker are Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Illinois, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Community Health Worker
The salary for Community Health Workers ranges between about $26,070 and $65,890 a year.
Community Health Workers who work in District of Columbia, Utah, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Community Health Workers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $42,830 |
| Alaska | $46,590 |
| Arizona | $40,090 |
| Arkansas | $40,220 |
| California | $49,260 |
| Colorado | $42,000 |
| Connecticut | $47,240 |
| Delaware | $40,940 |
| District of Columbia | $61,770 |
| Florida | $39,930 |
| Georgia | $41,240 |
| Hawaii | $46,380 |
| Idaho | $35,840 |
| Illinois | $42,250 |
| Indiana | $42,000 |
| Iowa | $38,050 |
| Kansas | $41,350 |
| Kentucky | $38,210 |
| Louisiana | $39,840 |
| Maine | $37,470 |
| Maryland | $50,160 |
| Massachusetts | $44,500 |
| Michigan | $44,380 |
| Minnesota | $41,110 |
| Mississippi | $32,880 |
| Missouri | $38,310 |
| Montana | $39,830 |
| Nebraska | $38,190 |
| Nevada | $45,740 |
| New Hampshire | $49,050 |
| New Jersey | $51,560 |
| New Mexico | $40,020 |
| New York | $44,340 |
| North Carolina | $41,610 |
| North Dakota | $45,210 |
| Ohio | $38,490 |
| Oklahoma | $47,110 |
| Oregon | $42,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,550 |
| Rhode Island | $47,430 |
| South Carolina | $42,770 |
| Tennessee | $44,630 |
| Texas | $41,640 |
| Utah | $47,830 |
| Vermont | $33,670 |
| Washington | $42,610 |
| West Virginia | $34,080 |
| Wisconsin | $45,720 |
| Wyoming | $48,230 |
What Tools do Community Health Workers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Community Health Workers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Publisher
- SmugMug Flickr
- Electronic health record EHR software
- Client databases
How do I Become a Community Health Worker?
Learn what Community Health Worker education requirements there are.
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Community Health Workers?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
Image Credit: Article 25 Flickr via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.