Postcertification Wages Among Certified Peer Specialists Working in Peer Support and Other Occupations

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Occupational Health
• Socioeconomic Studies

Background:

• Certification can elevate the status of peer support work.
• Certified Peer Specialists (CPSs) may still experience financial hardship impacting career choices.
• Understanding the financial trajectory of CPSs post-certification is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in wages and financial well-being for CPSs over a three-year period after certification.
• To analyze the impact of job type (peer support vs. non-peer) on financial outcomes for CPSs.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 448 employed CPSs was studied over three years.
• Data collected via self-report surveys on job characteristics, hours worked, and job tenure.
• Financial well-being assessed using the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Financial Well-Being Scale.
• Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, t tests, and mixed-effects logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Hourly wages increased significantly for both peer support (PS) and non-peer (NP) jobs, with NP jobs showing larger gains.
• CPSs in PS jobs had longer job tenures compared to those in NP jobs.
• Higher wages correlated with longer job tenure.
• Overall financial well-being did not show significant improvement over the study period.

Conclusions:

• Larger wage increases and shorter tenures in NP jobs suggest CPSs may transition to these roles for financial and career advancement.
• CPSs' financial well-being trends mirror broader U.S. adult population declines, despite wage increases.
• Further support and policy considerations are needed to address the financial stability of CPSs.