Health Education Specialist salary in Illinois
Health Education Specialists in Illinois earn a median of $60,120 a year ($28.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,660 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $64,070. Illinois ranks 34th of 51 states for health education specialists pay. There are 0.17 health education specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.39). The average (mean) salary is $68,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for health education specialists in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| 25th percentile | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Median | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| 75th percentile | $77,100 | $37.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,660 | $50.80 |
| Average (mean) | $68,730 | $33.04 |
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 | $5,010 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,505 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,312.31 |
| Weekly | $1,156.15 |
| Hourly | $28.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,120 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Health Education Specialist salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | $71,990 | 50 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,120 | 690 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $57,050 | n/a |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $54,600 | 40 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $63,220 | $30.39 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $64,270 | $30.90 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $49,350 | $23.73 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $49,960 | $24.02 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $40,900 | $19.67 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $74,390 | $35.76 |
| Community Health Worker | $49,240 | $23.67 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $64,030 | $30.79 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $60,970 | $29.31 |
| Counselors, All Other | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| Clergy | $61,820 | $29.72 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for health education specialists in Illinois is $60,120 a year, or $28.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid health education specialists make in Illinois?
The top 10% of health education specialists in Illinois earn at least $105,660 a year. The top 25% earn $77,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for health education specialists in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,480 a year, and a quarter of health education specialists earn $49,670 or less.
How many health education specialists work in Illinois?
About 1,010 health education specialists are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.