All About Community Health Workers
Position 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
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
- Advise clients or community groups to ensure parental understanding of the importance of childhood immunizations and how to access immunization services.
- Transport or accompany clients to scheduled health appointments or referral sites.
- Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
- Administer immunizations or other basic preventive treatments.
- Monitor nutrition of children, elderly, or other high-risk groups.
Skills Needed to be a Community Health Worker
Below is a list of the skills most Community Health Workers say are important on the job.
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Community Health Representative
- Health Outreach Worker
- Community Liaison
- HIV CTS Specialist (Human Immunodeficiency Virus Counseling and Testing Services Specialist)
- Community Nutrition Advisor
Community Health Worker Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 57,500 jobs for Community Health Workers in 2016.
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 18.1% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 10,400 new jobs for Community Health Workers by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 8,500 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Community Health Workers are New York, California, and Texas.
Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Rhode Island, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for Community Health Workers
The average yearly salary of a Community Health Worker ranges between $26,070 and $65,890. The median salary for this occupation is $39,540.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
District of Columbia |
$61,770 |
|
New Jersey |
$51,560 |
|
Maryland |
$50,160 |
|
California |
$49,260 |
|
New Hampshire |
$49,050 |
|
Wyoming |
$48,230 |
|
Utah |
$47,830 |
|
Rhode Island |
$47,430 |
|
Connecticut |
$47,240 |
|
Oklahoma |
$47,110 |
|
Alaska |
$46,590 |
|
Hawaii |
$46,380 |
|
Nevada |
$45,740 |
|
Wisconsin |
$45,720 |
|
North Dakota |
$45,210 |
|
Tennessee |
$44,630 |
|
Massachusetts |
$44,500 |
|
Michigan |
$44,380 |
|
New York |
$44,340 |
|
Alabama |
$42,830 |
|
South Carolina |
$42,770 |
|
Washington |
$42,610 |
|
Oregon |
$42,350 |
|
Illinois |
$42,250 |
|
Indiana |
$42,000 |
|
Colorado |
$42,000 |
|
Texas |
$41,640 |
|
North Carolina |
$41,610 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$41,550 |
|
Kansas |
$41,350 |
|
Georgia |
$41,240 |
|
Minnesota |
$41,110 |
|
Delaware |
$40,940 |
|
Arkansas |
$40,220 |
|
Arizona |
$40,090 |
|
New Mexico |
$40,020 |
|
Florida |
$39,930 |
|
Louisiana |
$39,840 |
|
Montana |
$39,830 |
|
Ohio |
$38,490 |
|
Missouri |
$38,310 |
|
Kentucky |
$38,210 |
|
Nebraska |
$38,190 |
|
Iowa |
$38,050 |
|
Maine |
$37,470 |
|
Idaho |
$35,840 |
|
West Virginia |
$34,080 |
|
Vermont |
$33,670 |
|
Mississippi |
$32,880 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Community Health Workers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Community Health Workers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Excel
Becoming a Community Health Worker
Are there Community Health Worker education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become Community Health Worker?
Where Community Health Workers Are Employed
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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