| Job Category |  | Community & Social Services |
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| Job Description | | According to the AAHE, "health education is a social science that draws from the biological, environmental, psychological, physical, and medical sciences to promote health and prevent disease, disability and premature death through education-driven voluntary behavior change activities. It is the development of individual, group, institutional, community, and systemic strategies to improve health knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behavior. The purpose of health education is to positively influence the health behavior of individuals and communities as well as the living and working conditions that influence their health."
Health Educators plan and provide educational opportunities for health personnel and collaborate with health specialists and civic groups to determine community health needs and availability of services, and to develop goals. Some health educators promote health discussions in schools, industry, and community agencies and disseminate educational and informational materials. They may also conduct community surveys to determine health needs and availability of professional health services, and to develop desirable health goals.
Health educators serve as a resource to help individuals, other professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs. |
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| Working Conditions | | Usually work indoors. The job requires a lot of sitting and being in contact with others, e.g., face-to-face, telephone, or e-mail. They must be very exact and highly accurate. |
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| Salary Range | | Median annual earnings of health educators were $41,330 in 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,300 and $56,580. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $72,500. |
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