Careers in Community Health Education

by Anatalia Gauthier

According to the University of Maryland Department of Public and Community Health, the job sector for community health is growing. Public and community health careers revolve around creating healthy communities using education, research, and the promotion of healthy lifestyle choices. There are several degrees a person looking to start a career in this field can obtain: a bachelor of science, a master of public health or a doctor of philosophy degree. People with these degrees may work for corporations promoting health and wellness, or for government agencies, hospitals or research and development agencies.
Public Health Educator/Community Health Care Worker

Public health educators and community health care workers promote healthy life choices and well-being. They educate their communities about behavioral issues and disease prevention, as well as nutrition, exercise and sexual education. Each educator tailors his approach based on his community's need and audience. For example, a high school health educator may focus on teen pregnancy while a community health care worker at a local YMCA may focus on recognizing and avoiding eating disorders. Educators must take the patient's age and culture into account. Someone who works in this profession will typically need a bachelor of science degree and can expect to earn between $31,287 and $61,385 a year, according to Health Jobs Start Here.

Behavioral Science/Health Education

A career in behavioral science and health education concentrates on improving public health by encouraging healthy choices. Developing communitywide initiatives is a regular duty. Topics taught include nutrition, fitness, disease prevention, treating injuries and women's and men's health issues. In this field, you may also delve into health issues research. Candidates must have an advanced degree. According to Explore Health Careers, the expected annual salary is between $33,000 and $86,625.
Public Health Biostatician

Biostatisticians work behind the scenes in the community health education sector. Their work applies statistical theory with mathematical principals to the research of medicine, biology, environmental science, public health and other related fields. Public health biostaticians use research to determine the cause of disease and injuries and identify health trends within communities. Duties may include analyzing risk factors for various diseases and determining the usefulness of modern medicine. Explore Health Careers lists the annual salary for this career between $33,000 and $63,000. A career as a public health biostatician requires an advanced degree.