What Do Community Health Workers Do?
Community health workers assist individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. They also conduct outreach for medical personnel or health organizations to implement programs in the community that promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health. Community health workers provide information on available resources, provide social support and informal counseling, and advocate for individuals and community health needs. Additionally, they may collect data to help identify community health needs.
Where Do Community Health Workers Work?
Many community health workers work in health facilities, providing case management, client education, interpretive services, follow-up care, and patient navigation. Others are employed by government agencies and non-profit groups to provide community organization, health education, insurance enrollment, and preventive care services in the field.
Although their roles vary depending on locale and cultural setting, they are most often found working in underprivileged, marginalized communities where people may have limited resources: lack of access to quality health care; lack of means to pay for health care; do not speak English fluently; or have diverse cultural beliefs, values, and behaviors.
What Do Community Health Workers Earn?
In 2022, the average annual income reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for community health workers in the United States was $49,900. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) reports that, in 2023, community health workers in New York earned a median annual salary of $52,285 (community health workers in the 25th percentile made approximately $38,170 while those in the 75th percentile made approximately $65,567).
Supply and Demand
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of community health worker jobs in the U.S. will increase by 12% between 2021 and 2031. The New York State Department of Labor projects that the number of community health worker jobs in the state will increase by 44% between 2020 and 2030. For more information on projections of community health workers by New York State labor regions, 2018-2028, click here.
Educational Program Requirements
Educational requirements for community health workers vary by location and roles.
New York Licensure Requirements
No license is needed to work as a community health worker in the state of New York.
Board Certification
Community health workers may receive training, but this training does not culminate in the awarding of a certificate.
Education Programs in New York (subject to change)
| Community Health Worker Network (NYC) 60 Haven Ave New York, NY 10032 (917) 653-9699 |
Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo 515 Main Street Buffalo, New York 14203 (716) 548-6727 |
| LaGuardia Community College 31-10 Thomson Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101 718-482-7200 |
Schenectady County Community College 78 Washington Avenue Schenectady, New York 12305 (518) 381-1200 |
| SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Health Career Center 450 Clarkson Ave Brooklyn, NY 11203 (718) 270-7701 |
Hostos Community College Allied Health Career Pipeline Program 427 Walton Ave Bronx, NY 10451 (718) 619-8362 |
| Kingsborough Community College 2001 Oriental Blvd Brooklyn, NY 11235 (718) 368-5000 |
1199 SEIU Home Care Industry Educ 330 42nd Street New York, NY 10036 (212) 643-9422 |