Health Education Specialist Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

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

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$64,070
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$30.80
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$118,200
entry level starts ~$42,990
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 66,000 employed

How much does a Health Education Specialist make?

The median pay for a Health Education Specialist in the United States is $64,070 per year — about $30.80 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $42,990, while the most experienced Health Education Specialists in the top 10% earn $118,200.

That is $2,680 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Health Education Specialist salary range by percentile

Half of all Health Education Specialists earn between $50,620 and $87,130 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$42,990$20.67
25th percentile (early career)$50,620$24.34
50th percentile (median)$64,070$30.80
75th percentile (experienced)$87,130$41.89
90th percentile (top earners)$118,200$56.83

Highest-paying states for Health Education Specialist

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Maryland leads the country for Health Education Specialist pay at $104,470 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($103,330) and Georgia ($99,400). At the other end, Florida posts the lowest median at $46,360 — a gap of $58,110 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Maryland$104,470$50.23+63%
2District of Columbia$103,330$49.68+61%
3Georgia$99,400$47.79+55%
4Pennsylvania$80,670$38.78+26%
5Minnesota$78,400$37.69+22%

Workforce and education

About 66,000 people work as Health Education Specialists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $73,280 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: an associate degree (about 2 years of college) is the typical entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Health Education Specialist make in the United States?
The median Health Education Specialist salary in the United States is $64,070 per year, or about $30.80 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $42,990, while the top 10% of earners make $118,200 or more.
How does Health Education Specialist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Health Education Specialist median of $64,070 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Health Education Specialists the most?
Maryland is the highest-paying state for Health Education Specialists, with a median salary of $104,470 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Health Education Specialist?
Becoming a Health Education Specialist typically requires about 2 years of college. An associate degree (about 2 years of college) is the typical entry requirement.
How many Health Education Specialists work in the United States?
About 66,000 people were employed as Health Education Specialists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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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.