America's Community Health Workers: A Bridge Between Health and Social Change

The job prospects of community health workers (CHWs) have continued to grow in recent years, becoming an increasingly important position in the field of public health. CHWs play a key role in providing health services, improving health outcomes, promoting health education, and reducing health inequalities.

This article will start with the employment and salary situation of community health work, and deeply analyze the future development trend of community health work to help you become an outstanding community health worker.

Advantages of community health work

1. The demand for community health workers is increasing

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job prospects of community health workers are very optimistic. It is expected that the employment of community health workers will increase by 13% between 2023 and 2033 , and there will be an average of about 7,500 community health worker vacancies each year, which is much higher than the average for all occupations.

2. Salary advantages

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of community health workers in 2023 is about $48,200 . Salaries may vary by region, experience, and position.

• Entry-level salary: Typically from $30,000 to $35,000 .

• Experienced professionals: Salaries can range from $50,000 to $55,000 .

• High-paying positions: Some community health workers with higher qualifications and working on large projects may earn more than $60,000 .

3. Low requirements

Community health workers usually only need a high school diploma and do not need any work experience in related professions. They can be employed after a short period of on-the-job training.

4. Career Advancement

With further education, community health workers can transform into health education specialists, registered nurses, social workers, or substance abuse, behavioral disorders, and mental health counselors.

How to become a community health worker

1. Duties of community health workers

• Health education and promotion: Provide health education to community members, teach disease prevention, healthy eating, exercise, and lifestyle changes.

• Health resource links: Help community members obtain health insurance, medicines, doctors, and other medical service resources to ensure that they can get appropriate care.

• Chronic disease management: Help community members manage chronic diseases (such as diabetes, hypertension, etc.) and provide necessary support and education.

• Culturally adapted communication: Serves as a bridge between the medical system and the community, especially in multicultural communities, to provide health information that conforms to cultural background.

• Community surveys and data collection: Collect community health data to understand health conditions and needs, and provide support for policy making and health planning.

2. Requirements for becoming a community health worker

To enter this industry, community health workers usually need at least a high school diploma, but some employers prefer to hire trained or certified job seekers. In order to gain competency, it is usually necessary to complete a short period of on-the-job training, and some states require certification.

From Patient to Healer - Anna's Transformation

Anna was originally a diabetic living in a low-income community in the southern United States. She was repeatedly hospitalized because of her long-term failure to control her blood sugar level, and her quality of life was seriously reduced. She even felt that she could not continue to persist.

With the help of her community health worker, Anna began to participate in the diabetes management plan and gradually improved her health through diet adjustment, regular exercise, and taking medicine on time. The community health worker not only provided her with medical information, but also encouraged her to establish healthy living habits.

As her health gradually improved, Anna found that she not only regained her health, but also gained the motivation to redefine her life. Eventually, Anna decided to become a community health worker, wanting to pass on her experience from patient to recovery to others. By becoming a CHW, she not only improved her own life, but was also able to help and encourage others who faced the same difficulties as she had, bringing them hope and change.

Career Development Path for Community Health Workers

• Health Education Specialist: With further education and certification, community health workers can be promoted to health education specialists, responsible for broader health promotion and policy design.

• Public Health Manager/Coordinator: After accumulating experience, community health workers can be promoted to public health project managers or coordinators, responsible for managing large public health projects.

• Senior management positions: Some experienced community health workers may be promoted to regional or national health project directors, responsible for formulating and implementing public health policies.

Don't hesitate anymore - take action!

Community health workers can find job opportunities in a variety of industries and fields. You can visit NACHW (a professional organization in the United States that focuses on the career development of community health workers and publishes recruitment information for community health worker positions), Idealist (a job search platform focused on nonprofit organizations and social service work), and HealthCareJobSite (focused on job recruitment in the medical and health field, where you can find various medical and health positions including community health workers).