Health Education Specialists Salary
In South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI, health education specialists earn $59,640 at the median, or about $28.67 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.86), which stretches that salary to about $64,226 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $993/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $60K get you in South Bend-Mishawaka?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by South Bend-Mishawaka’s Regional Price Parity (92.86). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About health education specialists
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What this looks like in South Bend-Mishawaka
Health education specialists pay in South Bend-Mishawaka tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $64K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $993/month, 24.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for health education specialists in metros near South Bend-Mishawaka, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $60K | $63K |
| Fort Wayne | $61K | $66K |
| Evansville | $39K | $43K |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $58K | $62K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Entry-level health education specialists (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Health Education Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Health Education Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $104K | +63% | 2,220 |
| District of Columbia | $103K | +61% | 680 |
| Georgia | $99K | +55% | 3,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $81K | +26% | 2,690 |
| Minnesota | $78K | +22% | 1,250 |
| Washington | $77K | +21% | 1,750 |
| Iowa | $76K | +18% | 540 |
| Oregon | $76K | +18% | 840 |
| Rhode Island | $75K | +18% | 150 |
| Colorado | $74K | +16% | 750 |
| Wisconsin | $74K | +16% | 900 |
| New Jersey | $74K | +15% | 1,420 |
| Alaska | $72K | +12% | 310 |
| New Hampshire | $70K | +9% | 250 |
| Vermont | $68K | +6% | 180 |
| Connecticut | $67K | +4% | 400 |
| Kentucky | $65K | +2% | 760 |
| Alabama | $65K | +2% | 540 |
| Ohio | $65K | +1% | 1,970 |
| South Carolina | $65K | +1% | 470 |
| Virginia | $64K | -0% | 690 |
| Hawaii | $64K | -1% | 190 |
| California | $64K | -1% | 12,520 |
| Arizona | $63K | -1% | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $63K | -1% | 340 |
| Kansas | $63K | -2% | 520 |
| West Virginia | $63K | -2% | 400 |
| Wyoming | $63K | -2% | 90 |
| New York | $63K | -2% | 4,150 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -3% | 820 |
| Arkansas | $62K | -3% | 200 |
| Nevada | $62K | -3% | 270 |
| Idaho | $61K | -4% | 370 |
| Illinois | $60K | -6% | 1,010 |
| Utah | $60K | -7% | 490 |
| North Dakota | $60K | -7% | 200 |
| Texas | $59K | -7% | 5,320 |
| Maine | $58K | -9% | 490 |
| Indiana | $58K | -9% | 1,380 |
| North Carolina | $58K | -9% | 2,110 |
| New Mexico | $58K | -9% | 660 |
| Louisiana | $58K | -10% | 470 |
| Massachusetts | $58K | -10% | 2,420 |
| South Dakota | $57K | -10% | 190 |
| Missouri | $57K | -11% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $57K | -11% | 230 |
| Michigan | $56K | -12% | 1,480 |
| Montana | $51K | -20% | 240 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -20% | 410 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -23% | 490 |
| Florida | $46K | -28% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track health education specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Bend-Mishawaka numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a health education specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Bend-Mishawaka?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 24.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $993/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for health education specialists in South Bend-Mishawaka?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new health education specialists typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,309/month. At HUD’s $993/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is health education specialist a high-paying job in South Bend-Mishawaka?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $64K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does South Bend-Mishawaka compare to the national average for health education specialists?
South Bend-Mishawaka pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do health education specialists make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The median is $59,640 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,480, and experienced health education specialists can clear $94,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in South Bend-Mishawaka?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,012/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $993/month, which eats 24.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a health education specialists salary go in South Bend-Mishawaka?
South Bend-Mishawaka has a Regional Price Parity of 92.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median health education specialists salary is worth about $64,226 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do health education specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.