Your path. Your pay. Your power.
CHWs and promotores/as are the backbone of community health. Find pay references, certification steps, free resources, and FQHC jobs.
How pay might change by region
The lower, middle, and upper figures come from several sources, with no sample size and no shared date. We set the regional multipliers by hand. They are assumptions and do not measure local pay or cost of living.
| Region | Lower | Middle | Upper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Area | $53K | $60K | $71K |
| Los Angeles | $50K | $56K | $67K |
| San Diego | $48K | $55K | $65K |
| Central Coast | $47K | $53K | $63K |
| Sacramento | $46K | $52K | $62K |
| Inland Empire | $46K | $49K | $59K |
| Central Valley | $46K | $48K | $57K |
| North State | $46K | $47K | $56K |
| North Coast | $46K | $46K | $55K |
SB 525 sets $22/hr for covered FQHC health care employees since July 1, 2026. It rises to $25/hr on July 1, 2027. Check coverage and exceptions. Annual figures multiply the hourly rate by 2,080 hours.
CHW certification and Medicaid reimbursement
Requirements vary by state. In California, Medi-Cal has reimbursed CHW services since July 2022. Other states use different certification, Medicaid, or promotor/a paths.
Eligible roles
CHW, Promotor/a, Community Health Representative, In-Home Supportive Services Worker.
Training options
Any training program whose certificate covers the Medi-Cal CHW core competencies and includes field experience (community college, community-based, online). DHCS keeps no approved list, so ask your employer which certificates it accepts. With 2,000 hours of CHW work in the past three years, you can start without a certificate and have 18 months to earn one.
Jobs and pay
The statewide middle reference is $52K. The regional figures above are examples. They are not what people were actually paid. Check the employer's posting and get the offer in writing.
Current openings, each linked to the employer
Care Neighborhood Community Health Worker
Oakland, CA
Statewide reference: $46K – $62K. Not this job's posted pay.
Community Health Worker
Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 15201
Statewide reference: $46K – $62K. Not this job's posted pay.
Community Health Worker (HIV Grant) - BMS at Yard 56
Baltimore, MD
Statewide reference: $46K – $62K. Not this job's posted pay.
Community Health Worker - Refugee Grant
Baltimore, MD
Statewide reference: $46K – $62K. Not this job's posted pay.
(Bilingual Spanish Speaking) COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER - Pine Street Family Health Center
Kingston, NY
Statewide reference: $46K – $62K. Not this job's posted pay.
Part-time COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER - Bronx Health Reach
New York, NY
Statewide reference: $46K – $62K. Not this job's posted pay.