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Job outlook for health specialists in the United States
Health specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected health specialist job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 7,500 new jobs for health specialists are projected over the next decade.
Health specialist salaries have increased -15% for health specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,259 health specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 72,463 active health specialist job openings in the US.
The average health specialist salary is $47,740.
Are health specialist jobs in demand?
Health Specialist job and salary trends over time
Health Specialist jobs over time
Health Specialist job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,259 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,018 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 6,047 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,192 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,937 | 0.00% |
Average health specialist salary over time
Health Specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $47,740 | $22.95 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $46,083 | $22.16 | --20.3% |
| 2023 | $57,796 | $27.79 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $56,814 | $27.31 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | $56,134 | $26.99 | +1.0% |
Health Specialist jobs by state
Most common states for health specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 214 | 31% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,126 | 20% |
| 3 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,249 | 19% |
| 4 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 601 | 19% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 137 | 18% |
| 6 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 104 | 18% |
| 7 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 289 | 17% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 159 | 17% |
| 9 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,655 | 16% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,195 | 16% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 961 | 16% |
| 12 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 473 | 16% |
| 13 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,449 | 15% |
| 14 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 430 | 15% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 297 | 15% |
| 16 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,581 | 14% |
| 17 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,154 | 14% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 821 | 14% |
| 19 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 688 | 14% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 120 | 14% |
Most common cities for health specialists
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Granite City | 4 | 14% | $50,871 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 3 | 8% | $50,693 |
| 3 | West Haven | 2 | 4% | $52,079 |
| 4 | Carbondale | 1 | 4% | $51,027 |
| 5 | Rockford | 3 | 2% | $50,316 |
| 6 | Elgin | 2 | 2% | $50,385 |
| 7 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $43,787 |
| 8 | Boston | 6 | 1% | $49,711 |
| 9 | Denver | 4 | 1% | $43,329 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu | 2 | 1% | $60,319 |
| 11 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $50,438 |
| 12 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $37,403 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $47,231 |
| 14 | Buffalo | 1 | 0% | $40,222 |
| 15 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $40,747 |
| 16 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $44,453 |
Health Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of health specialist experts
University of Central Missouri
University of Central Missouri
Southeastern Louisiana University
Pennsylvania State University
Benedictine University
California State University - Los Angeles
University of New England, College of Graduate & Professional Studies
Bowling Green State University
Neumann University
Montana State University
Bethel University
Lancaster Bible College
Maryville University
University of Lynchburg
University of Lynchburg
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Thresholds
California State University - Fresno
What general advice would you give to a Health Specialist?
Angie Otiniano Verissimo Ph.D., M.P.H.: I would really emphasize the importance of networking and building relationships. Public health is all about collaborating and bringing different diverse groups to the table. Tapping into existing relationships, considering former professors, classmates, preceptors, and mentors is a good starting point. Once you have a solid sense of the population or health topic you will be focused on, you can start thinking through establishing new relationships and equitable partnerships. This is also an opportunity to be creative. When we are engaging communities in public health, we often have to think outside of the box and build relationships with community members and organizations that may not be traditionally considered public health partners. We have to be comfortable taking public health information, messages, and initiatives out into the community.
What Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Angie Otiniano Verissimo Ph.D., M.P.H.: As with other sectors, technology is becoming more and more critically important in public health. There is a lot of progress in terms of the integration of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and social media in public health. The more recent graduates can familiarize themselves with these tools, the better prepared they will be.
What will help Health Specialists increase their earning potential?
M. Paige Powell PhD, MHA: Gaining as much experience as possible while in school can help to maximize salaries. This could be through patient-facing jobs, internships, case competitions, or volunteering. Take on leadership roles within your program or extracurricular organizations. Some organizations are open to negotiating starting salaries, so know the cost of living in the relevant geographic area, the marketability of the skills in the job you are seeking, and what value you can provide to the organization.
Wesley Tinker
Assistant Professor of SafetyUniversity of Central Missouri
Safety Sciences
What Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Wesley Tinker: - In today's marketplace, the need for Safety Professionals is at an all-time high. With the ever-evolving methods and equipment across all industries, safety-related positions are being instituted to keep up with the introduction of the risks associated with the evolvement. Safety professionals impact the four quadrants of risk management involving finances, strategy, operations, and of course hazards. In previous years, the persona of duties associated with the Safety professional only impacted the hazards element but nowadays we can see how impactful they are on all four of those quadrants. With this level of involvement in the organization, the justification for a higher salary is made. Safety Professionals typically enter the field because they want to prevent people from becoming injured and/or ill but also the volume of positions along with the higher payscale than most 'fresh out of college' professions, allows for more opportunities.
Wesley Tinker
Assistant Professor of SafetyUniversity of Central Missouri
Safety Sciences
What hard/technical skills are most important for Health Specialists?
Wesley Tinker: -Risk assessment skills are a must; without them, the individual will be lost.
-Ventilation and noise calculations as well as monitoring procedures.
-How to calibrate hazard monitoring equipment.
-Instructional skills. The safety professional spends a large portion of their days training workers to perform their tasks safely either in a classroom setting or individually on site.
-Ability to perform thorough accident investigations and provide preventative control measures based on causal factors found.
-Ability to quantitate values of risk versus controls as well as cost/benefit analysis.
-The technical uses for analytical techniques to break down analysis' in several different functions of the job duties.
-Able to apply OSHA requirements to specific site functions, i.e., secondary containment, hot works, and elevated working surfaces.
What skills stand out on Health Specialist resumes?
Wesley Tinker: When reviewing an Occupational Health and Safety Professional resumes, specific items stand out from a viewer's standpoint.
-Whether the degree program they graduated from is ABET-accredited.
-Obtaining the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) upon graduation from a qualified degree program shows that the candidate has been very well educated for the safety profession.
-The experience from their internships. Expect to be asked about their day-to-day duties while in their internship.
-Professional skills noted such as time management, customer service, technological abilities, and overall organizational skills.
-Affiliations with safety organizations as well as student chapter organizations, such as the American ---Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP).
-Limiting to a single page for a resume is important. Most entry-level safety professionals are hired knowing they do not possess all the skill sets that a seasoned safety professional might have. The average resume for most industries is viewed for approximately 6 to 7 seconds. Having high-profile information toward the top of the resume is critical if wanting to be brought in for an interview.
-Certifications in OSHA 10 and 30, CPR/First Aid, as well as CPR/First Aid Instructor certification, is a very large advantage. If one really wanted to stand out, an EMT-B license would help too.
Jared Reno
Undergraduate Coordinator of The Industrial and Engineering Technology DepartmentSoutheastern Louisiana University
Industrial and Engineering Technology
What soft skills should all Health Specialists possess?
Jared Reno: In industrial and engineering technologies, I believe that the most important soft skill is critical thinking skills like designing aptitudes to fit specific needs, innovating using the resources available to your company, troubleshooting problems in equipment, logistics, and interpersonal disputes. This industry is all about solving problems in new and creative ways, and that is why I think critical thinking skills are the most important.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Health Specialists?
Jared Reno: The most important technical skills someone needs to know is:
-One, how to read blueprints and professionally drafted plans. Our industry partners have told us that print reading is a must for all internships and part-time and full-time positions. It is expected that a college graduate of a technical field knows how to read plans
-Basic computer skills using Spreadsheets and Document formats such as Microsoft Word and Excel or Google Docs and Google Sheets. This is crucial for working in any industry but especially Engineering or Industrial practices. These are used to make procedures for safety and production. They are used to evaluate data that has been collected. They are used for organizing information for customers, employees, and manufacturers. The more you know about these programs, the easier your work life will be.
-Basic project management skills are also crucial. Even if you are not the "project manager," you need to have some skills. You need to know how to prioritize more important tasks, you need to know how to manage your time wisely, you need to know how to communicate with multiple people or groups of people.
What skills will help Health Specialists earn the most?
Jared Reno: Right now, we are seeing an outstanding demand for certified welding inspectors and supervisors. This is due to a huge age gap of experience, and none experienced workers. The average age of a welding inspector or supervisor is 64 years old. That means we are about to see a huge decline because these workers will be retiring.
-With that being said, experience is the key factor for improving your paycheck in this industry. The students who do the best throughout their lives started doing internships early in their college careers. This gave them relevant work experience plus a 4-year degree. This made them more desirable for companies, and so they got put into better positions before all the other graduates allowing them more opportunities to grow.
-One last thing that can help you earn more is to never stop your learning. Continue learning about your trade and continue to get certifications after graduating. The more credentials you have, the more desirable you are. Develop a thirst for knowledge and learning. It will help you in your career and in your life.
Jessica Clontz
Assistant Teaching Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, Program Coordinator, HDFSPennsylvania State University
Human Development and Family Studies Department
What soft skills should all Health Specialists possess?
Jessica Clontz: Although the pandemic has changed much of how the human services field functions, the most important skills remain the same: compassion, empathy, creativity, maintaining personal wellness, and holding space for others. With millions of people grieving sudden deaths of loved ones, professionals will need to be prepared to be a witness and hold space for that grief. To avoid compassion fatigue and burnout, it will be helpful for professionals (and employers!) to make personal wellbeing a priority and encourage a balance between work and other fulfilling endeavors.
What skills will help Health Specialists earn the most?
Jessica Clontz: The ones you continue to strengthen and grow.
Bonnie Beezhold Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorBenedictine University
Nutrition Department
What skills stand out on Health Specialist resumes?
Bonnie Beezhold Ph.D.: Like other fields, possessing excellent writing and oral skills in health and wellness is critical to effectively convey health information to audiences. Those skills appear to be waning even among graduate students. Recognizing low competency and getting remedial help with language mechanics should be a top priority.
Also, taking the time and effort to get to know your audience profile before engaging with them ensures that you are writing and speaking at their level of understanding and readiness to hear you. Tailoring information to audiences when planning to deliver health education or health promotion is a critical necessity - we cannot assume that everyone who would benefit from hearing the health or wellness information we want to provide can understand it or are even interested.
Perhaps more critical today is recognizing and combating the formidable power of health misinformation to sabotage the health and well-being of the public and, conversely, provide credible, evidence-based information. Clearly, if the vast majority of our population had consistently accessed factual news and information based on sound scientific principles about the nature and spread of the virus and the necessity of public health guidelines, no matter how imperfectly guidelines evolved, we would likely be living in a scenario of recovery from the pandemic rather than continuing to watch case numbers and deaths rise across the country with a more contagious variant.
As increasingly reported, misinformation spreads much more quickly than factual information. A study conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and published in the prestigious Science journal compared the diffusion of verified true and false news articles that appeared on Twitter from 2006 through 2017 (Vosoughi, Roy, Aral, 2018). They found that false articles diffused significantly 'farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than factual articles in all information categories. The reason? Researchers concluded that false information was more novel and engaged more emotional reactions like fear, disgust, and surprise than factual information. Thus it was more likely shared with friends and family. Unfortunately, those who disseminate misinformation for whatever reason are increasing, and there are currently no regulations that require news and information to be fact-checked and truthful. Health and wellness experts then have a responsibility to recommend therapies with evidence of efficacy and safety, disseminate accurate information from responsible government, education, and health organizational sites, and provide guidelines to help the public discern what health resources provide accurate information.
The consequences of not tackling health misinformation can obviously have grim consequences. We have all watched as misinformation on vaccination has negatively impacted the country's response to the pandemic. It is a fact that vaccination is one of the great modern triumphs against serious widespread infectious disease, along with antibiotics and proper hygiene. But misinformation and disinformation in social media as well as in certain national media websites and broadcasts has cast doubt on vaccine efficacy and safety and has politicized public health guidelines, leading to a substantial proportion of the population refusing vaccination rather than viewing it as a most fortunate solution and moving towards herd immunity. Even before the pandemic, misinformation about vaccines, in general, had been rising, and infectious diseases formerly conquered, like measles, began to reappear and put children at risk.
Another important skill I would mention that health and wellness graduates should cultivate is an ability to forge caring relationships with individuals or groups based on trust and ethics to inspire confidence in their expertise. It is important to realize that one's ability to reach and persuade people they want to help is largely dependent on whether those people respect and trust them. Health and wellness experts should be involved in their community and demonstrate empathy and concern beyond merely providing credible health and wellness information from reputable resources.
What's a good job out of college for Health Specialists?
Kimberly Kisler Pisca MPH, PhD: The field of public health is vast and diverse, so job opportunities can present in a number of settings and with a number of populations and health issues. However, the immediate need for public health professionals to assist with COVID-19 efforts presents a unique opportunity for recent graduates to assist with contact tracing and disease investigation, encouraging vaccination uptake, dispelling myths through health education and health promotion materials development, and connecting the community to much-needed resources. An entry-level job as a contact tracer, health educator, or peer case manager would be a great way to get valuable hands-on experience while meeting the immense need within the community.
What technical skills for a Health Specialist stand out to employers?
Tracey Spinato: I hear a lot of employers speak to the need for professionals who are strong in both written and verbal communication. While communication is critical to all public health fields, it's particularly important when it comes to those working in epidemiology, research, and data--we need public health professionals who can take that information and communicate the findings in a way that is accessible and effective. Writing is also critical to securing grants, so as we see more funding channeled towards public health, those with strong writing skills will be a tremendous asset to any public health organization. There is also a need for professionals who understand health policy--the pandemic has highlighted the need for policies that advocate for public health infrastructure, community health, prevention services, environmental health, and emergency management. Other than that, it's important that public health professionals stay up to date on new technology, statistical software, and social media marketing and communication.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Bradley Fevrier Ph.D.: Remote work will be the biggest mover in terms of trending. Public health as a field of study has been constantly evolving and given the current pandemic that is only going to continue. Proficiency in emergency/crisis management, epidemiology (qualitative and quantitative science) and anything telehealth related will see an increase in interest. Also, given the variability in understanding of the current health impacts of COVID-19, areas like data science, bioinformatics, and biostatistics will see upward mobility.
Timothy Hanna Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorNeumann University
Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling
What Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Timothy Hanna Ph.D.: Focusing on telehealth training could increase one's job options. Many workshops exist through various professional organizations tied to mental and spiritual health (ACA, APA, ACPE, SPT, PESI, etc.). If the student is interested in specialized certification (such as EMDR, DBT, etc.), they can also pursue those additional trainings during this time.
What type of skills will young Health Specialists need?
Edward Dunbar: Additionally, new graduates will need knowledge and skills in telehealth, integrative care and medicine, trauma, and case management. Whereas prior to the pandemic students had limited knowledge of the importance of client case management, the pandemic has required students to learn about community resources and helping clients with concrete short term goals.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Health Specialists?
Edward Dunbar: Yes. Prior to this pandemic our graduates had little to no training in telehealth (distance-based counseling), and there was a steep learning curve for people who graduated and entered the field prior to the pandemic. For our current students, we have been able to assist them with developing the skills for multiple modes of counseling (telehealth, in person counseling, etc.). Additionally, the increase in mental health issues, addiction issues, domestic violence, and unemployment will affect our graduating students for years. They will need to be well-versed in treating higher acuity issues and helping clients from low SES. The pandemic has also highlighted the social systems and systemic injustice/racism which has made our students look more closely at the role of power/privilege and oppression in addictions and mental health counseling.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Health Specialists?
Dr. Amy Evans: The pandemic certainly will have lasting impact on graduates in counseling, as we will see shifting expectations related to training and experience with telemental health for all counselors. Additionally, there is the impact on mental health of so many because of the pandemic across the world, including grief and loss, depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug concerns, as well as many other mental health concerns individuals may be experiencing. There continues to be a strong and growing need for counselors! Mental health counseling will continue to see growth in relation to job prospects for many years to come.
Grace Palmisano
Lancaster Bible College
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Grace Palmisano: Since the pandemic started, mental health concerns have skyrocketed as the pandemic disrupted the regularity of peoples' social and work lives. There is an increase of depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, addictions, and sadly suicides during the pandemic as people encounter loneliness, social isolation/distancing, loss of loved ones, unemployment, financial struggles, etc. Because of this, more people are seeking mental health services to help them cope through this pandemic.
So job opportunities in the mental health field will steadily increase as the need for mental health services have increased, even for therapists themselves. It is a strange time for therapists to also share similar experiences and stresses as the client when it comes to the pandemic. Because of that, there is additional stress for therapists to care for their own mental health needs while supporting their clients'. The complications are that most mental health positions do require formal education and training, which can slow the process down. Nevertheless, there are training opportunities in communities that seek to provide first-aid mental health training to the community just to be informed and even just know the "basics."
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Michael Kiener Ph.D.: The pandemic accelerated the use of telehealth services. Rehabilitation counselors with advanced technology skills as well as knowledge of ethical and legal issues regarding telehealth will have an advantage in the job market. Supervisors that have a skill set to onboard and mentor employees virtually will also have an advantage. Agencies that provide crisis counseling may also experience an increased demand for counselors.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Health Specialists to find work opportunities?
Michael Kiener Ph.D.: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there is a need for over 12,000 more rehabilitation counselors nationwide and the growth in the profession is faster than the average of all occupations. The pandemic will only add to this demand. Rehabilitation counselors have the unique scope of practice to provide both mental health and vocational counseling. Areas of the country that experienced high unemployment rates could benefit from rehabilitation counselors helping displaced workers find new employment or transition to new careers. Moreover, rehabilitation counselors could provide mental health counseling to front line workers who have been managing the pandemic since March.
Daniel Hall Ph.D.
Program Director, Assistant Professor of Counselor EducationUniversity of Lynchburg
College of Education, Leadership Studies, & Counseling
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Health Specialists?
Daniel Hall Ph.D.: I do believe there will be an enduring impact from the coronavirus - not just on graduates, but on the mental health profession. Graduates will have personal experience with many of the stressors that might bring clients in for counseling services. So, it is my hope that all practitioners moving forward will have increased empathy and understanding that will contribute to their efficacy with clients across a spectrum of concerns.
As a profession, mental health counselors will need to be sure that they have engaged in appropriate self-care to mitigate any of the psychological effects of the pandemic they may be experiencing themselves. And, finally, there has been a huge expansion in the teletronic delivery of mental health services during Covid times. Even as face-to-face counseling becomes more widely available and returns as a viable and available option, electronic services have earned an acceptance that did not exist prior to the pandemic, and that delivery model will continue to be far more prevalent than it was before.
What experience really stands out on Health Specialist resumes?
Daniel Hall Ph.D.: Specificity is an essential highlight that stands out on a resume - particularly as it relates to experience in the field. That means enough detail to clearly articulate professional skills. So, for example, not just a mention of facilitating small groups, but rather the topic of the group, the theoretical approach, etc. And, perhaps more importantly, outcomes. Applicants will really stand out if they can reference engagement in evidence-based best practices and then have data that demonstrates the success they have had in application and facilitation of those practices.
Jeanne Booth Ph.D.
Professor of Counselor Education and the Director of the Center for Family StudiesUniversity of Lynchburg
College of Education, Leadership Studies, and Counseling
What type of skills will young Health Specialists need?
Jeanne Booth Ph.D.: As I just mentioned, counselors will now be expected to have skills specific to online delivery of services. The ethical challenge will be that this skill set should be founded upon solid, professional training in teletherapy, not just offering services without related pedagogy, experience, and supervision. Also, because counseling practice will have undergone this "sea change" everyone in the profession will need increased measures of two qualities that were always inherent in the professional practice: flexibility and the ability to cooperate and collaborate both within an agency and across a service community.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Health Specialists?
Jeanne Booth Ph.D.: I do believe there will be an enduring impact from the coronavirus - not just on graduates, but on the mental health profession. Graduates will have personal experience with many of the stressors that might bring clients in for counseling services. So, it is my hope that all practitioners moving forward will have increased empathy and understanding that will contribute to their efficacy with clients across a spectrum of concerns.
As a profession, mental health counselors will need to be sure that they have engaged in appropriate self-care to mitigate any of the psychological effects of the pandemic they may be experiencing themselves. And, finally, there has been a huge expansion in the teletronic delivery of mental health services during Covid times. Even as face-to-face counseling becomes more widely available and returns as a viable and available option, electronic services have earned an acceptance that did not exist prior to the pandemic, and that delivery model will continue to be far more prevalent than it was before.
Kim Jones Ph.D.
Professor, Chair of Clinical ConcentrationUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock
School of Social Work
What skills stand out on Health Specialist resumes?
Kim Jones Ph.D.: The necessary skills for today's market include the ability to implement evidence-informed mental health approaches, the ability to display empathy, knowledge of crisis intervention models, organizational skills, good work ethic, both verbal and written communication skills, cultural competence, and the ability to adapt to changing technology.
What general advice would you give to a Health Specialist?
Chris Noone: The need for dedicated, compassionate social work and mental health professionals has never been greater. There is a significant increase in mental health problems worldwide, including PTSD, due to the pandemic. Social work and mental health staff have stepped up and are making a difference with sophisticated, evidence-based approaches, such as providing trauma-informed care. They quickly adapted to doing virtual teletherapy sessions and outdoor/walking visits with social distancing. The good news is they have more tools available in their toolkits, such as apps they can use with clients to help coach: meditation, breathing exercises, goal visualization, etc. Their work is more than essential right now and in the long-term.
Lynette Bartucci
Lynette Bartucci, M.S., CRC, APCC#7835 Clinics Director / Adjunct FacultyCalifornia State University - Fresno
Clinical Rehab Mental Health Counseling Program: CSU, Fresno Foundation- Ticket to Work Employment Network
What general advice would you give to a Health Specialist?
Lynette Bartucci: General advice includes keeping an open mind and open options for a secondary career change, if needed. At one point, everyone believed that the medical profession was a secure employment field to be in. If this pandemic continues, will we continue to see the trend for medical work? Always seek a job you are passionate about and have something secondary on the side that you also thoroughly enjoy.