How to hire community health workers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise. • Advise clients or community groups on issues related to self-care, such as diabetes management. • Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions. • Develop plans or formal contracts for individuals, families, or community groups to improve overall health. • Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information. • Monitor nutrition of children, elderly, or other high-risk groups. • Refer community members to needed health services. • Report incidences of child or elder abuse, neglect, or threats of harm to authorities, as required. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong active listening, critical thinking, speaking, active learning, reading comprehension and monitoring skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service, English Language, medicine and dentistry and psychology • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $24.93 an hour ($51,850 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for community health workers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to advise clients or community groups on issues related to self-care, such as diabetes management. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to develop plans or formal contracts for individuals, families, or community groups to improve overall health. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What community health workers do
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to self-care, such as diabetes management.
- Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
- Develop plans or formal contracts for individuals, families, or community groups to improve overall health.
- Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
- Monitor nutrition of children, elderly, or other high-risk groups.
- Refer community members to needed health services.
- Report incidences of child or elder abuse, neglect, or threats of harm to authorities, as required.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for community health workers
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.7% over ten years, much faster than average · about 7,000 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay community health workers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New York | $58,130 |
| California | $58,050 |
| Nevada | $57,730 |
| Washington | $57,070 |
| New Jersey | $55,790 |
| Oklahoma | $45,790 |
| Florida | $45,420 |
| Tennessee | $42,310 |
See community health workers pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Health Education Specialists
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Healthcare Social Workers
- Social and Human Service Assistants
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Personal Service Managers, All Other
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.