Community Health Workers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Community and Social Service · SOC 21-1094 · O*NET 21-1094.00
Community Health Workers fall under the Community and Social Service category in the U.S. occupational classification. Community Health Workers earn a median salary of $51,030 per year, ranking in the top 60% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +11.3% job growth through 2034, projected to grow faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do community health workers earn?
The median annual wage for community health workers is $51,030. That puts community health workers at #488 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is community health workers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for community health workers is +11.3%, projected to grow faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 65K positions in 2024 to 72K in 2034, a net change of 7K. Faster-than-average growth means hiring is consistently outpacing the labor market overall. New entrants generally find their first roles faster than peers in stable fields.
What education does my child need to become community health worker?
The standard path into community health workers begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
- Social Workers, All Other$69,480 median
- Healthcare Social Workers$68,090 median
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$65,140 median
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$64,520 median
- Marriage and Family Therapists$63,780 median
- Health Education Specialists$63,000 median
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about community health workers
What is the median salary for community health workers?
The median annual salary for community health workers is $51,030 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is community health workers a growing career?
BLS projects +11.3% growth for community health workers from 2024 through 2034, which is fast growth projected to grow faster than the US average.
What education does my child need to become community health worker?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to community health workers?
Related occupations within the Community and Social Service category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.