5 Health Promotion Careers for Public Health Graduates

Health literacy is an individual’s ability to access, understand, and use resources related to their health. When health literacy is low, health outcomes worsen, putting a mental, physical, and often financial strain on the individual and the health care system as a whole. According to the Center for Health Care Strategies, the majority of adults in the United States have low health literacy.

Health promotion careers play a vital role in improving health literacy for all, ensuring that people can access information, resources, and programs related to their health and also understand how to use them effectively. With a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education, students can prepare for health promotion careers like these that help shape the future of health literacy for the better.

1. Health and Safety Coordinator

Health and safety coordinators inspect work environments, analyze their safety and preparedness, and suggest improvements. These safety professionals perform in-depth tests and inspections to ensure that workplaces follow government safety regulations. They also investigate incidents to determine paths to prevention, teach employers and employees how to maintain workplace safety, and create and implement programs that mitigate health risks.

Salary and Job Outlook

Health and safety coordinators, also referred to as health and safety specialists or technicians, earned a median annual salary of $78,900 as of 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). With an expected growth rate of 14% between 2023 and 2033, this health promotion career is expanding at a rate significantly faster than the national average for all positions.

2. Health Educator

Health educators work with communities to teach behaviors that can improve health and well-being. These community health workers develop programs and resources to teach communities about health topics, provide people with information on health services, advocate for improved health policies and resources, and train community health workers to become educators themselves.

These educators can be found in a variety of settings that serve and support communities. In health care facilities, they work with patients and their families to ensure they receive the proper care, both in the facility and at home. Health educators also work for nonprofits, where they create programs and materials on specific health issues to inform their communities, and in public health departments, where they develop and lead public health campaigns on topics like emergency preparedness.

Salary and Job Outlook

Health education specialists earned a median annual salary of $63,000 as of 2024, according to the BLS. This public health career is experiencing significant growth, with an expected 7% increase in the number of positions available between 2023 and 2033.

3. Community Outreach Coordinator

Community outreach coordinators work with health care facilities, nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses to coordinate and supervise programs that support public well-being. Through their work, they spread awareness about their organizations’ mission and goals while helping their communities. They conduct research on their communities and their issues, while communicating with donors and the media to represent their organizations. They also develop relationships with local leaders, attend events to raise awareness, and establish communication channels to share their messages.

Salary and Job Outlook

Community outreach coordinators are considered a type of social and community service manager. The BLS reports that these professionals earned a median annual salary of $78,240 in 2024. With a growth rate of 8% between 2023 and 2033, this health promotion career is expected to grow twice as fast as the average for all careers.

4. Nonprofit Program Manager

Nonprofit program managers develop, implement, and oversee a nonprofit’s initiatives to ensure that they are in line with the mission of their organization. They measure programs’ effectiveness, supervise all related projects, and handle budgets, staff, and activities.

Salary and Job Outlook

The median annual salary for nonprofit program managers as of May 2025 was about $62,250, according to Payscale. Like community outreach coordination, nonprofit program management falls under the category of social and community service management, which has an expected growth rate of 8% between 2023 and 2033, according to the BLS.

5. Wellness Coordinator

Wellness coordinators work with employers to develop health initiatives that improve the well-being of their workers or the general public. Employers may bring them on board to develop health programs, lead health classes or presentations, and develop and disseminate marketing materials related to health improvement. These health promotion specialists can also be found in gyms or community centers, where they lead classes and events on health and well-being as well as design programs that educate and inspire their communities to lead healthy lives.

Salary and Job Outlook

The median annual salary for wellness coordinators as of 2024 was $61,340, according to the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). This health promotion career is projected to have a growth rate of between 6% and 8% between 2023 and 2033.

Inform and Educate for a Healthier Future with NCCU Online

Health promotion careers work to improve outcomes for all by boosting health literacy. These career paths help develop programs that enable people to lead healthier lives. Perhaps even more crucially, working in health promotion means ensuring that people not only have access to these programs but also the knowledge to use them effectively.

With NCCU Online’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education Flight Path Program, students can prepare to become changemakers in health promotion and health literacy. Students hone their skills in both public health and health administration, equipping them with the hard and soft skills to promote and support healthier communities. The service-minded students who complete this program will come away with the knowledge and expertise necessary to thrive in health education. This prerequisite training for graduate study also covers approved coursework and experiences necessary to take the national Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.

Work toward a healthier future with NCCU Online.

Recommended Readings

Community Outreach Coordinator Career Overview

Why Is Health Education Important?

What Is a Wellness Coordinator?

Sources:

Center for Health Care Strategies, Health Literacy Fact Sheets

Indeed, “Outreach Coordinator Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications”

Indeed, “What Does a Wellness Coordinator Do? (With Responsibilities)”

O*NET Online, Fitness and Wellness Coordinators

Payscale, Average Program Manager, Non-Profit Organization Salary

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social and Community Service Managers