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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Community Health Worker expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $55,867, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $39,107 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
A career as a Community Health Worker sits at the intersection of Community & Social and Community & Social Services. Most professionals enter with High school + training, and the field is characterized by very high demand. The work itself is field. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$61,920 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Community Health Worker in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $101,760 — $61,920 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,840). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The salary distribution for Community Health Workers reveals a $39,107 spread from entry to senior. At $55,867, the median sits $24,500 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $40,224 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $79,331 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $95,040 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $40,160. That $54,880 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
A Community Health Worker in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $101,760 — $61,920 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,840). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $40,224 | $55,867 | $79,331 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £20,903 | £29,032 | £41,225 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$32,367 | CA$44,955 | CA$63,836 |
| Australia | 13 | A$36,238 | A$50,331 | A$71,470 |
| Sweden | 24 | 231,946 kr | 322,148 kr | 457,450 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $48,548 | $67,428 | $95,748 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $46,915 | $65,160 | $92,527 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $46,656 | $64,800 | $92,016 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $43,200 | $60,000 | $85,200 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $42,682 | $59,280 | $84,178 |
| Washington | 8 | $41,861 | $58,140 | $82,559 |
| New York | 5 | $39,399 | $54,720 | $77,703 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $39,398 | $54,720 | $77,702 |
| Florida | 22 | $39,100 | $54,305 | $77,114 |
| Colorado | 11 | $38,424 | $53,367 | $75,781 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $38,362 | $53,280 | $75,658 |
| Nevada | 5 | $38,293 | $53,184 | $75,521 |
| Arizona | 12 | $38,102 | $52,920 | $75,146 |
| Oregon | 5 | $38,016 | $52,800 | $74,976 |
| Idaho | 3 | $37,901 | $52,640 | $74,749 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $37,601 | $52,224 | $74,158 |
| Utah | 4 | $37,498 | $52,080 | $73,954 |
| Virginia | 7 | $36,881 | $51,223 | $72,737 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $36,403 | $50,560 | $71,795 |
| Alaska | 1 | $36,288 | $50,400 | $71,568 |
| Illinois | 5 | $35,873 | $49,824 | $70,750 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $34,982 | $48,587 | $68,993 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $34,560 | $48,000 | $68,160 |
| Montana | 1 | $34,560 | $48,000 | $68,160 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $34,445 | $47,840 | $67,933 |
| Texas | 40 | $34,275 | $47,604 | $67,598 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $34,215 | $47,520 | $67,479 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $34,042 | $47,280 | $67,138 |
| Georgia | 6 | $33,926 | $47,120 | $66,910 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $33,869 | $47,040 | $66,797 |
| Kansas | 4 | $33,696 | $46,800 | $66,456 |
| Michigan | 6 | $33,581 | $46,640 | $66,229 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $33,178 | $46,080 | $65,434 |
| Maryland | 1 | $33,178 | $46,080 | $65,434 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $31,968 | $44,400 | $63,048 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $31,795 | $44,160 | $62,707 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $31,363 | $43,560 | $61,855 |
| Missouri | 4 | $31,363 | $43,560 | $61,855 |
| Alabama | 5 | $31,242 | $43,392 | $61,616 |
| Indiana | 3 | $30,758 | $42,720 | $60,662 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $30,758 | $42,720 | $60,662 |
| Iowa | 2 | $30,413 | $42,240 | $59,981 |
| Ohio | 6 | $30,355 | $42,160 | $59,867 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $29,030 | $40,320 | $57,254 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Community Health Worker median of $67,428 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($65,160) and Hawaii ($64,800). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $40,320 and $42,240. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($101,760 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $48,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $101,760 | 212 | $48,000 | $62,976 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $95,040 | 198 | $48,000 | $59,167 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $88,320 | 184 | $48,000 | $55,334 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $86,880 | 181 | $48,000 | $54,512 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $85,440 | 178 | $48,000 | $53,691 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $84,960 | 177 | $48,000 | $53,417 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $84,960 | 177 | $48,000 | $53,417 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $83,040 | 173 | $48,000 | $52,321 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $83,040 | 173 | $48,000 | $52,321 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $81,120 | 169 | $48,000 | $51,226 |
The $39,107 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Community Health Worker career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Community & Social Services sector, very high demand, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Community Health Workers is $55,867 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $40,224, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $79,331.
The highest-paying city for Community Health Workers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $101,760. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($101,760), Santa Clara ($95,040), Irvine ($88,320). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Community Health Worker salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $39,840. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Community Health Workers (10th percentile) average $40,224 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $73,267. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Community Health Workers average $79,331 nationally — $39,107 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Community Health Workers can earn up to $144,499.
The top-paying states for Community Health Workers are California ($67,428 median), Massachusetts ($65,160 median), Hawaii ($64,800 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Community Health Worker involves High school + training. The field is in the Community & Social Services sector (Community & Social), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically field.
With a national median of $55,867 and representation across 288 metro areas, Community Health Worker offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $39,107 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.