Health Education Specialist salary in California
Health Education Specialists in California earn a median of $63,610 a year ($30.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,170 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $64,070. California ranks 23rd of 51 states for health education specialists pay. There are 0.69 health education specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $74,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for health education specialists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,020 | $23.57 |
| 25th percentile | $54,850 | $26.37 |
| Median | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| 75th percentile | $85,000 | $40.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,170 | $54.41 |
| Average (mean) | $74,720 | $35.92 |
Half of health education specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,300.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,650.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,446.54 |
| Weekly | $1,223.27 |
| Hourly | $30.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $63,610 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Health Education Specialist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,260 | 1,850 |
| Vallejo, CA | $81,630 | 130 |
| Merced, CA | $79,830 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $78,640 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $75,810 | 610 |
| Redding, CA | $69,640 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $65,230 | 150 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $65,000 | 110 |
| Salinas, CA | $62,760 | 130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,510 | 1,020 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $62,500 | 1,080 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $62,390 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $62,380 | 4,320 |
| Visalia, CA | $62,090 | 110 |
| Modesto, CA | $61,670 | 160 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $61,660 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $61,390 | 140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,190 | 700 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $59,350 | 210 |
| Chico, CA | $59,120 | 210 |
| Fresno, CA | $58,840 | 430 |
Highest-paying states for health education specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $104,470 |
| District of Columbia | $103,330 |
| Georgia | $99,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,670 |
| Minnesota | $78,400 |
| Washington | $77,420 |
| Iowa | $75,750 |
| Oregon | $75,500 |
| Rhode Island | $75,360 |
| Colorado | $74,150 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,250 | $28.48 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $51,090 | $24.56 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $86,500 | $41.59 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $67,300 | $32.35 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $89,660 | $43.11 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $58,770 | $28.26 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $103,640 | $49.83 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $44,480 | $21.38 |
| Counselors, All Other | $48,850 | $23.49 |
| Community Health Worker | $58,050 | $27.91 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $63,010 | $30.29 |
| Clergy | $77,710 | $37.36 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a health education specialist make in California?
The median salary for health education specialists in California is $63,610 a year, or $30.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid health education specialists make in California?
The top 10% of health education specialists in California earn at least $113,170 a year. The top 25% earn $85,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for health education specialists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,020 a year, and a quarter of health education specialists earn $54,850 or less.
How many health education specialists work in California?
About 12,520 health education specialists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.