Community Health Worker Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Community health workers in Tucson connect neighbors to care, and the jobs sit with the Pima County Health Department, the University of Arizona, UnitedHealthcare and tribal health programs. Pima County has posted Community Health Worker II jobs at $18.24 to $21.44 an hour to start. Current openings are below, followed by who hires and how to get certified.
Current Community Health Worker Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Community Health Worker Work in Tucson
Public health carries most of the work here. The Pima County Health Department hires community health workers for family planning, mobile dental and other programs, and runs its own CHW trainee track for people who have the community experience but not yet the certificate. The University of Arizona hires bilingual CHWs at its Health Sciences campus on North Campbell Avenue for research studies and a mobile health unit that travels to neighborhoods and events. Health plans have joined in since AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid program, began paying for CHW services in April 2023 when the worker is certified, and UnitedHealthcare now recruits field-based CHWs with Tucson as the primary location.
Tribal and Native-serving programs are a distinctly Tucson part of the field. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe, whose reservation sits southwest of the city, hires promotores de salud for diabetes education and home assessments, and the Tucson Indian Center employs Community Health Representatives for outreach and home visits in Tucson's American Indian community. Spanish fluency is preferred at almost every employer, and some ask for Yaqui as well.
Top Tucson Employers for Community Health Workers
These Tucson employers hire community health workers and representatives:
- Pima County Health Department - Community Health Worker I and II roles in family planning, mobile dental and other public health programs, plus a CHW trainee path.
- University of Arizona - bilingual CHWs for Department of Medicine research and the mobile health unit at UA Health Sciences.
- UnitedHealthcare - field community health workers covering Pima County members, with Tucson as the primary location.
- Pascua Yaqui Tribe - promotores de salud on an integrated care team doing diabetes education, home safety checks and workshops.
- Tucson Indian Center - Community Health Representatives doing outreach, care coordination and home visits.
Community Health Worker Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level (CHW I or trainee): roughly $18 to $21 an hour.
- Experienced (certified CHW, CHR or UA research CHW): roughly $21 to $28 an hour.
- Senior or lead (health plan field CHW, trainer): roughly $28 to $35 an hour.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Pima County posts a full CHW II range of $18.24 to $24.64 an hour, the Tucson Indian Center has posted its CHR III at $23.04 to $28.72, the UA has posted CHWs at $47,356 to $59,195 a year, and UnitedHealthcare's field CHW range runs $20.00 to $35.72 an hour. Certification, Spanish fluency and medical assistant skills all push pay up.
How to Become a Community Health Worker in Tucson
Most Tucson CHW jobs ask for a high school diploma or GED plus a year or more of community work, volunteering or outreach. Arizona's CHW certification, issued by the Arizona Department of Health Services since November 2022, is voluntary to practice, but many employers require it within a set time after hire and AHCCCS will only pay for services from a certified CHW. Pima Community College runs a Community Health Worker course at West Campus on Anklam Road in a hybrid format, built with El Rio Health, and the Pima County Health Department's trainee program is another way in. Tribal employers often add CHW core competency training within six months of hire and a Level One fingerprint clearance card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
What the Job Involves
A community health worker finds people who are falling through the cracks and helps them back into care. The day might include a home visit to check blood pressure and home safety, a call to schedule a specialist appointment, help filling out an insurance or food assistance application, a diabetes or nutrition class at a community center, and a booth at a health fair. CHWs follow up by phone or text, track outcomes and keep careful confidential records.
Skills Employers Look For
- Bilingual English and Spanish, which most Tucson employers prefer
- Knowledge of local resources, clinics and AHCCCS enrollment
- Arizona CHW certification, or the ability to earn it after hire
- A valid Arizona driver's license and reliable transportation
- Basic health screening skills such as vital signs
- Clear, confidential documentation and data entry
Career Path and Advancement
Many Tucson CHWs start as a trainee or CHW I at the county or in a clinic outreach program, then move to CHW II or a CHR role with certification. From there the ladder runs to lead CHW or trainer, health plan field roles, program coordinator jobs in public health, or further school in nursing, social work or public health at the UA's Zuckerman College of Public Health.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for community health workers:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a certification to be a community health worker in Arizona?
Not to practice. The Arizona Department of Health Services certification is voluntary, but AHCCCS pays for CHW services only when the worker is certified, and employers like the Pima County Health Department require it within a year of hire.
How much do community health workers make in Tucson?
Entry jobs run roughly $18 to $21 an hour, certified and experienced CHWs roughly $21 to $28, and lead or health plan field roles up to about $35. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
Where can I train to be a community health worker in Tucson?
Pima Community College offers a hybrid Community Health Worker course at its West Campus, and the Pima County Health Department runs a CHW trainee program. Arizona also accepts work experience as a path to certification.
Do Tucson CHW jobs require Spanish?
Most prefer it and some require it. The University of Arizona has required bilingual Spanish and English for its CHW postings, and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe prefers Spanish, Yaqui and English.
What is the difference between a CHW and a CHR?
A Community Health Representative is a community health worker in a tribal or Native-serving health program, such as the Tucson Indian Center. The daily work is similar: outreach, health education, home visits and connecting people to care.
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