How to Become a Community Health Worker
Be the trusted bridge between communities and the health system, helping people access care and healthier habits. It typically requires an associate degree, with a median salary of $51,850 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$51,850/yr
Middle half
$45,640 to $62,540
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
7,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Health Outreach
- Community Engagement
- Health Education
- Cultural Competence
- Care Navigation
Helpful certifications
- State CHW certification
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
13/100
Work-life balance
65/100
Stress level
50/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Community Health Worker make?
The median pay for a Community Health Worker is $51,850 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $45,640 and $62,540 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Community Health Worker?
The usual entry point is an associate degree. Common majors are Public Health, Health Sciences, Human Services, and Sociology.
Is Community Health Worker a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 7,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Community Health Worker use most?
Common skills for this role are Health Outreach, Community Engagement, Health Education, Cultural Competence, and Care Navigation.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).