Prevailing Wage for Health Education Specialists

Prevailing wage for Health Education Specialists (SOC 21-1091) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether your offer is for a Health Education Coordinator, Clinical Instructor, or Certified Diabetes Educator role, DOL assigns one of four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on your worksite city.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$44K
$21.16/hr

Entry-level candidates with limited professional experience, typically recent graduates or those new to public health program work. Scope is supervised, routine tasks within established health education programs. Most sponsors filing at this level are onboarding candidates directly from degree programs.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$55K
$26.24/hr

The most common filing level for Health Education Specialists. Applies to candidates with one to three years of independent program experience, capable of planning and implementing health education initiatives without close supervision. Employers filing H-1B petitions for this occupation most frequently select Level 2.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$65K
$31.29/hr

Experienced professionals who supervise others, manage fiscal resources for programs, or lead community health needs assessments. Candidates at this level typically bring five or more years of specialized experience and may hold a Certified Health Education Specialist credential.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$75K
$36.03/hr

Fully competent senior specialists setting program strategy, managing large community health portfolios, or serving as organizational leads. This level reflects the highest complexity and autonomy, including multi-stakeholder program oversight and policy development responsibilities.

Prevailing Wage for Health Education Specialists by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$28K/yr$72K/yr

What’s an OES area?

The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.

Top 10 cities · Level 1

1
Washington, DC
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro
$72K$34.84/hr
2
Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro
$65K$31.37/hr
3
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro
$63K$30.52/hr
4
Seattle, WA
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro
$63K$30.44/hr
5
Boise City, ID
Boise City, ID metro
$63K$30.36/hr
6
Rochester, MN
Rochester, MN metro
$63K$30.08/hr
7
Spokane, WA
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro
$62K$30.00/hr
8
York, PA
York-Hanover, PA metro
$61K$29.16/hr
9
Reading, PA
Reading, PA metro
$59K$28.59/hr
10
Portland, OR
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro
$59K$28.46/hr

See all jobs for Health Education Specialists

See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Health Education Specialists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.

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Prevailing Wage Guide for Health Education Specialists

Confirm your title maps to SOC 21-1091

Job titles like Community Health Consultant, Education Coordinator, and Certified Diabetes Educator all share the SOC 21-1091 code. If your employer files under a different SOC, the prevailing wage floor changes and may not reflect this occupation's published rates.

Watch how Washington DC wages differ from national figures

The L2 prevailing wage in Washington DC runs substantially above the national median for this occupation. Health education roles in federal agency contractors and nonprofits concentrated there often command the highest floors in the country, worth verifying before accepting a relocation package.

Separate base salary from stipends and program budgets

Some Health Education Specialist offers include program administration stipends or fiscal resource allowances. Only guaranteed base wages count toward prevailing wage compliance; these supplemental amounts cannot be used to clear the DOL floor for a sponsored position.

Find employers who have sponsored Health Education Specialists before

Migrate Mate shows which employers have historical H-1B sponsorship records for health education roles, so you can focus your search on organizations that have navigated the LCA process for this occupation rather than ones new to sponsoring it.

Jobs for Health Education Specialists are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 21-1091.00 alongside Health Education Specialists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Certified Diabetes Educator Prevailing Wage

Certified Diabetes Educator positions fall under SOC 21-1091.00 (Health Education Specialists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$44K
$21.16/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.24/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$65K
$31.29/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$75K
$36.03/hr

Clinical Instructor Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Clinical Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1091.00 (Health Education Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$44K
$21.16/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.24/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$65K
$31.29/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$75K
$36.03/hr

Community Health Consultant Prevailing Wage

Community Health Consultant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1091.00 (Health Education Specialists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$44K
$21.16/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.24/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$65K
$31.29/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$75K
$36.03/hr

Education Coordinator Prevailing Wage

Education Coordinator positions fall under SOC 21-1091.00 (Health Education Specialists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$44K
$21.16/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.24/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$65K
$31.29/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$75K
$36.03/hr

Health Education Coordinator Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Health Education Coordinator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1091.00 (Health Education Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$44K
$21.16/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.24/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$65K
$31.29/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$75K
$36.03/hr

Health Educator Prevailing Wage

Health Educator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1091.00 (Health Education Specialists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$44K
$21.16/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.24/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$65K
$31.29/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$75K
$36.03/hr

Health Promotion Specialist Prevailing Wage

Health Promotion Specialist positions fall under SOC 21-1091.00 (Health Education Specialists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$44K
$21.16/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.24/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$65K
$31.29/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$75K
$36.03/hr

Public Health Educator Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Public Health Educator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1091.00 (Health Education Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$44K
$21.16/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.24/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$65K
$31.29/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$75K
$36.03/hr

Public Information Officer Prevailing Wage

Public Information Officer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1091.00 (Health Education Specialists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$44K
$21.16/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.24/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$65K
$31.29/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$75K
$36.03/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Health Education Specialists?

DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 21-1091, DOL divides the wage distribution into four levels based on experience and complexity. Employers sponsoring a visa must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.

What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?

Level 1 covers entry positions with supervised, routine duties. Level 2 applies to candidates working independently with some program ownership and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects supervisory or specialized program leadership experience. Level 4 is reserved for senior professionals setting strategy or managing complex portfolios. Your level should match your actual duties and experience, not just your years in the workforce.

Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?

DOL assigns wages using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 21-1091. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro's rates apply, not where the employer is headquartered. Dense public health employer markets like Washington DC or San Jose drive local wages well above national figures, while areas with lower demand or cost of living produce lower floors.

What happens if a job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?

If the offered salary is below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite, OFLC will not certify the Labor Condition Application. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve the H-1B petition. The employer must either raise the offered wage to meet the floor or reclassify the role at a lower level that aligns with both duties and the offered salary. An offer below the prevailing wage is not a legal basis for sponsorship.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?

Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 21-1091 by metropolitan area. Enter the worksite city or county to see the four level wages published for that area. You can cross-reference current employer filings through OFLC disclosure data to see what wages sponsors have actually certified for Health Education Specialist positions. Migrate Mate filters job listings by location and shows which employers have sponsored this occupation, helping you target roles where sponsorship is already established.

See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Health Education Specialists right now.

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