Quick answer:Health Education Specialists in the Columbus area earn a median $66,370 per year, above the national median of $64,070, and the metro employs about 480 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Public Health Pay in Columbus, OH
Metric
Columbus metro
Ohio
National
Median annual wage
$66,370
$64,860
$64,070
10th percentile
$42,310
$40,690
$42,990
25th percentile
$48,340
$47,300
$50,620
75th percentile
$85,030
$81,810
$87,130
90th percentile
$97,230
$98,110
$118,200
Employment
480
1,970
65,690
Location quotient
1.03
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Columbus, OH metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Columbus median of $66,370 is above the national median of $64,070, and above the Ohio statewide median of $64,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.03 means health education specialists are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Public health employment concentrates around state and county health departments, hospital systems and the non-profits that contract with them, so local government funding shapes the market more than private demand does
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Public health is not a state-licensed occupation, so no board gates entry. What employers and graduate programs look for is accreditation from CEPH, the Council on Education for Public Health. Certification is voluntary and employer-driven, which makes the credential unusually portable between states.
See the Ohio licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state health department.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 113 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do health education specialists make in Columbus?
The median annual wage for health education specialists in the Columbus, OH metro area is $66,370, above the national median of $64,070 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many health education specialists work in the Columbus area?
The Columbus, OH metro area employs about 480 health education specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do health education specialists in Columbus need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Public health is not a state-licensed occupation, so no board gates entry. What employers and graduate programs look for is accreditation from CEPH, the Council on Education for Public Health. Certification is voluntary and employer-driven, which makes the credential unusually portable between states. Confirm current requirements with your state health department.
Can I study public health online from Columbus?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state health department.
Is Columbus a better market than the rest of Ohio?
The Columbus metro median is $66,370 against a statewide median of $64,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Health Education Specialists (SOC 21-1091), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
