Community Health Worker job description
1,038 verified openings in Behavioral & Mental Health
Screening tables at health fairs are part of this job. O*NET lists blood pressure and communicable disease screening, and administering basic immunizations, among community health workers' tasks, alongside the core work of connecting residents to care and advocating for them with providers and social service agencies. BLS counted 61,660 of these jobs in May 2025 at a median of $51,850, ranging from $38,810 up to $77,180 across the published percentiles.
Core Duties and Responsibilities
Outreach gives the week its shape. Workers advise individuals and community groups on diet, exercise, and self-care topics such as diabetes management, and on risks including lead poisoning, HIV, and domestic violence. They identify and contact people in high-risk groups, low-income populations and pregnant women among them, then follow up in person, by phone, or in writing to confirm the plan was followed. Flyers and brochures go out, referrals go to the services people need, and community meetings and health fairs are where workers hear what a neighborhood is dealing with. The records come first, though: plans, notes, and forms, kept current for every client.
Common Skills and Technologies
Active listening, speaking, and social perceptiveness rank level with one another, with writing just behind. Persuasion and instructing both make the top twelve. Beyond the Office suite, the tool list adds Google Workspace, Apple macOS, Microsoft Access, and Zoom. Screening equipment counts as tooling too, given the blood pressure and glaucoma checks the occupation performs.
Education, Training, and Career Path
Job Zone Four applies, which O*NET defines as considerable preparation needed, so a four-year degree is typical without being universal. About 52 percent of respondents reported a bachelor's, 23 percent an associate degree, 15 percent a master's, and roughly 8 percent a high school diploma; the last few percent had some college without a degree. The zone also expects several years of related work experience or vocational training. Reported titles include community health outreach worker, community health promoter, community nutrition educator, and HIV counseling and testing services specialist.
Sources: O*NET 30.0, 21-1094.00 Community Health Workers, https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/21-1094.00. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, 21-1094, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211094.htm.