Community Health Worker Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Community Health Workers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$51,850
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$24.93
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$77,180
entry level starts ~$38,810
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 62,000 employed

How much does a Community Health Worker make?

A Community Health Worker earns a median annual salary of $51,850 in the United States, which works out to roughly $24.93 per hour for full-time work. Most Community Health Workers earn between $38,810 at the entry level and $77,180 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $45,640 and $62,540 a year.

That is $9,540 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Community Health Worker salary range by percentile

Half of all Community Health Workers earn between $45,640 and $62,540 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$38,810$18.66
25th percentile (early career)$45,640$21.94
50th percentile (median)$51,850$24.93
75th percentile (experienced)$62,540$30.07
90th percentile (top earners)$77,180$37.11

Highest-paying states for Community Health Worker

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Hampshire leads the country for Community Health Worker pay at $66,680 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($62,510) and North Dakota ($59,610). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $37,950 — a gap of $28,730 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1New Hampshire$66,680$32.06+29%
2District of Columbia$62,510$30.05+21%
3North Dakota$59,610$28.66+15%
4Colorado$59,260$28.49+14%
5Hawaii$58,450$28.10+13%

Workforce and education

About 62,000 people work as Community Health Workers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $56,180 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Community Health Worker make in the United States?
The median Community Health Worker salary in the United States is $51,850 per year, or about $24.93 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,810, while the top 10% of earners make $77,180 or more.
How does Community Health Worker pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Community Health Worker median of $51,850 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Community Health Workers the most?
New Hampshire is the highest-paying state for Community Health Workers, with a median salary of $66,680 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Community Health Worker?
Becoming a Community Health Worker typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Community Health Workers work in the United States?
About 62,000 people were employed as Community Health Workers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Other social & community service roles with similar pay.

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Social Worker, All Other

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Religious Worker, All Other

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$60,810
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.