21 Jobs that Help People in Need

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Curious about the best jobs that can help you help other people?

Sure, there are tons of career opportunities you can choose from. So many high-paying jobs are competing with each other to get your attention.

But which jobs are the most fulfilling? Which one will give you a sense of happiness and contentment?

The most satisfying job is the one that has a positive effect on your life and the lives of other people.

In this article, we bring you the 21 best jobs that help people in need. Although some do not offer high salaries, these jobs will surely increase your happiness and give you life satisfaction.

(Side note: Want to find the best career for your personality? Then take this FREE career test that matches your personality and interests to real-world careers)!

Best Jobs that Help People in Need

1. Lawyer

Basic Overview: Lawyers have a duty to protect their clients’ legal rights. They give their clients advice that is in accordance with the law of the state. When the situation calls for it, they also defend and represent their clients in court.

There are different kinds of lawyers, such as corporate lawyers, criminal lawyers, and immigration lawyers. Whatever kind of lawyer you choose to become, your main job is to help those who are in need of your assistance.

Average Salary: $117,118

Education Requirement: Juris doctor degree

How to Get Started:

To get started on becoming a lawyer, follow these steps:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in any area of study (e.g., political science, English, philosophy).
2. Pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
3. Choose a law school and complete the application process for enrollees.
4. Finish a juris doctor degree in a minimum of three years.
5. Pass the bar examination to qualify for a lawyer’s license to practice.

2. Police Officer

Basic Overview: Police officers serve the people by maintaining peace and order in the community. They ensure that public safety is maintained at all times, and their primary role is to prevent crimes from happening.

Policemen have the duty of patrolling and make rounds in the community. They help people by making them feel safe in their homes.

Average Salary: $53,594

Education Requirement: High school diploma or general education diploma (GED)

How to Get Started:

If you want to be a police officer, here are the things you need to do:

1. Get at least a high school diploma or a GED to comply with the minimum requirement. However, some police departments require a bachelor’s degree, especially those at the federal level.
2. Make sure you meet the other requirements: US Citizen, at least 18 years old (21 in some states), a valid driver’s license, and a clean criminal record.
3. Take and pass the Law Enforcement Exam (LEE) to be admitted to a police academy.
4. Train to become an officer at a police academy. Most trainings last six months.
5. Become a police officer and get promoted as you fulfill your duties.

3. 911 Dispatcher

Basic Overview: Being a 911 dispatcher is a tough job. You are not just responsible for receiving emergency calls and properly dispatching the right emergency personnel, you also have to keep the caller calm so that you can get the right information from them.

Emergency dispatchers help people by giving them hope. If a person calls 911, it typically means that someone’s life is in danger. People do not call 911 just to talk about how their day went—they need help.

Average Salary: $40,344

Education Requirement: High school diploma or general education diploma (GED)

How to Get Started:

To become a 911 dispatcher, make sure to comply with the following:

1. Earn a high school diploma or a GED certificate. A college degree is a plus, but it is not required.
2. Make sure that you are at least 18 years of age and that you have a clean criminal record.
3. Develop your typing skills, as dispatchers must be able to type information quickly yet accurately. The minimum requirement is 90% accuracy and a minimum of 35 words per minute.
4. Look for 911 dispatcher employers through your state’s primary or secondary Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), and then complete the application process.

4. Firefighter

Basic Overview: Firefighters have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. They literally risk their lives to save other people’s lives and property. Moreover, they don’t only fight fires—they also respond to emergencies that don’t involve fire.

Firefighters are trained to for a variety of rescue scenarios. Most important, they are always available to help—even when they are sleeping!

Average Salary: $48,890

Education Requirement: High school diploma or general education diploma (GED)

How to Get Started:

Firefighters are heroes. Here’s how to become one:

1. Acquire a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Make sure that you are at least 18 years old and that you have a valid driver’s license.
2. You are required to be physically fit, have a clear criminal background, and pass a drug screen test.
3. Pass all of the required tests, such as the written test and the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT).
4. Secure an emergency medical technician (EMT) license and then attend a fire academy where you can train.
5. Become a firefighter and get promoted by getting a formal education or increasing your skills and knowledge.

5. Paramedic

Basic Overview: Paramedics are trained to provide first aid treatment during emergencies. They tend to sick and injured people during a rescue, making sure they remain stable while being transferred to hospitals for further treatment.

Being a paramedic is satisfying, as you get to help people who are in need of immediate medical assistance. Without paramedics, many accident victims might not even make it to the hospital alive.

Average Salary: $40,309

Education Requirement: EMT basic training

How to Get Started:

Here’s how to become a paramedic:

1. Complete a basic emergency medical technician (EMT-B) training for six months. Other institutions may require you to finish a two-year course.
2. Become a certified paramedic by passing either a national or state exam. The exam includes cognitive and psychomotor tests.
3. To further your career, you can opt to complete an advanced EMT training or a two-year degree program.

6. Emergency Physician

Basic Overview: While firefighters and police officers risk their lives for others, physicians in emergency rooms literally hold the lives of people in their hands.

Emergency physicians handle different kinds of cases every day, ranging from gunshot wounds and broken bones to heart attacks and a lot more. If you want to save people’s lives, being a doctor is the perfect job for you.

Average Salary: $269,546

Education Requirement: Medical degree

How to Get Started:

To become a doctor and save people’s lives, here’s what you have to do:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree. Note that this typically has to be a pre-med degree, such as physics, biology, etc.
2. Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and pass it. The examination primarily tests your knowledge of science, but it also checks your verbal and written abilities.
3. Become a doctor of medicine in a minimum of four years. The first two years are all about the theories you have to know, while the last two years involve your internship.
4. Obtain a license by taking and passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
5. Finish a residency program in a hospital, then enter a fellowship program.

7. Nurse-Midwife

Basic Overview: If you are a woman wanting to help fellow women take care of their newborn babies, midwifery is the best job for you. You will be responsible for providing your client with gynecological exams and pre-birth services.

Midwives are also the ones who help moms deliver their babies. After that, they teach new parents how to take care of their children and provide for their needs.

Average Salary: $117,292

Education Requirement: Master of science in nursing (master’s degree)

How to Get Started:

Here are the steps to follow to become a midwife and start helping moms:

1. Earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing at an institution accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
2. Pass the licensure exam and become a registered nurse. Work for at least one year before entering the midwifery program.
3. Acquire a master’s or doctorate degree in midwifery at any institution accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME).
4. Pass the licensure examination offered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) and become a certified nurse-midwife.

8. Dietitian and Nutritionist

Basic Overview: There is no substantial distinction between a dietitian and a nutritionist. Basically, they both help in analyzing how diet and supplements can affect your health. Experts say that dietitians are simply more experienced, but that is not always the case.

Either way, if you are a health enthusiast and would like to help people stay fit and healthy, this could be the perfect job for you.

Average Salary: $59,660

Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in any of the following courses: clinical nutrition, dietetics, public health nutrition, or foods and nutrition

How to Get Started:

To become a certified dietitian, you need to comply with the following requirements:

1. Attain a bachelor’s degree in any of the above-stated courses from an institution that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. Note, however, that some employers require their applicants to have a master’s or doctoral degree.
2. Train as an intern for at least 1,200 hours under the supervision of a licensed dietitian.
3. Take and pass the examination administered by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Commission on Dietetic Registration.
4. Obtain a license, if needed, from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Some states require dietitians and nutritionists to have licenses.
5. Obtain a certificate called a Certified Nutrition Specialist from the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists, if needed. Some states require this certification before you can practice.

9. Psychiatrist

Basic Overview: Psychiatrists are medical doctors, but they focus more on people’s emotional health and mental states, such as depression and anxiety. This is probably one of the most significant jobs out there because of the growing mental health problems in recent years.

What psychiatrists do is to help their patients analyze their thoughts, and then cope with their emotions. They also provide counseling and therapy, and can prescribe medication since they are MDs.

Average Salary: $219,526

Education Requirement: Medical degree in behavioral science, psychopathology, psychiatry, etc.

How to Get Started:

To be a certified psychiatrist and start helping people, follow these steps:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree related to psychiatry. It is not mandated that you take a pre-med course, but it is advisable if you are serious about being a doctor of mental health.
2. After graduation, take the Medical College Admissions Test. Make sure to pass the exam so you can apply for medical school.
3. Complete a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) course.
4. After med school, you need to undergo residency training under the supervision of a licensed professional, within a clinical or hospital setting.
5. Get a license by taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) for MD graduates, or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) for DO graduates.
6. Obtain a certificate from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology by taking another examination.

10. Speech-Language Pathologist

Basic Overview: Speech-language pathologists help people (particularly children) who have speaking disabilities. First, they assess what kind of treatment the person needs, and then they try to come up with the best therapy to help develop that person’s speech.

Average Salary: $66,137

Education Requirement: Master’s degree in speech-language pathology or communicative sciences and disorders

How to Get Started:

Here’s how to start your journey toward becoming a speech-language pathologist:

1. Obtain a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders (CSD).
2. Earn a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or CSD in a CAA-accredited institution (CAA stands for Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology).
3. Finish a post-graduate fellowship program and then take the national exam in speech-language pathology.
4. Get a license by applying for a state licensure exam and obtain a certificate from The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

11. Substance Abuse Counselor

Basic Overview: Substance abuse counselors deal with people who have addiction problems. This is a type of social work that supports individuals suffering from alcoholism or drug dependency. As counselors and therapists, their job is to create treatment plans for their clients.

Average Salary: $39,383

Education Requirement: Master’s degree in addiction counseling or addiction studies

How to Get Started:

Help people fight their addictions by becoming a substance abuse counselor. Here’s how:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse or addiction studies.
2. Complete a master’s degree program in addiction counseling or addiction studies.
3. Choose a specialization (private practice or not). If you opt to do private practice, you need to obtain a license from the National Board for Certified Counselors. Otherwise, you can only practice by obtaining a license from the state where you choose to work.
4. Obtain certifications from different organizations, including National Certified Addiction Counselor, National Certified Adolescent Addictions Counselor, and National Peer Recovery Support Specialist.

12. Marriage and Family Therapist

Basic Overview: Marriage and family therapists offer their services to married couples and their families. They help identify the issues that are affecting marital relationships, and then help couples work through their problems.

Average Salary: $53,045

Education Requirement: Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy

How to Get Started:

Start saving relationships and family ties by following these steps:

1. Obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology or any other related field. What is important here is that you complete the subjects that deal with human development, counseling basics and fundamentals, and research methods.
2. Earn a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, or any other related field (e.g., psychology or clinical social work) in an institution accredited by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
3. Complete a two-year training under the supervision of a licensed marriage and family therapist, psychologist, or social worker.
4. Get a license by taking and passing a licensure exam from the state where you want to practice. You may also take the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.

13. Occupational Therapist

Basic Overview: Occupational therapists help those who suffer from injuries and disabilities by improving their physical performance and muscle coordination. They assess the people’s work and home spaces to check if there are certain modifications necessary to improve their health.

Average Salary: $80,782

Education Requirement: Master’s degree in occupational therapy

How to Get Started:

Here’s how to become a certified occupational therapist:

1. Earn an associate’s degree in any field related to occupational therapy.
2. Take and pass the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) exam.
3. Gather experience by applying for therapy assistant jobs.
4. Obtain a master’s degree in occupational therapy or any related field.
5. Pass the Occupational Therapy Registered (OTR) examination.
6. Take the licensure exam of the state where you want to practice.

14. Social and Community Service Manager

Basic Overview: If you want to serve the public and ensure that all members of the community receive proper care, this job is the right one for you.

Social and community service managers make sure that community programs are effectively implemented by the local government. They design financial proposals, create programs, and hire staff members for community events.

Average Salary: $63,723

Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in social work or any other related field

How to Get Started:

Here’s how you can become a social and community service manager:

1. Obtain a bachelor’s degree in social work, business administration, public health, or any other related field. Some employers might require a master’s degree.
2. Gain experience by applying to lower-level management positions. Once you have acquired enough experience, you can get promoted to a manager or director position.

15. Child and Family Social Worker

Basic Overview: Social workers that focus on child and family development make sure that children are protected. They do regular checks on children to see if they are being neglected or abused. Moreover, they provide access to food, housing, and other childcare services.

Average Salary: $53,950

Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in social work or any other related field

How to Get Started:

To become a child and family social worker, here are the steps to follow:

1. Obtain a bachelor’s degree in social work or any other related field. An associate’s degree is sufficient, but you need to complete other courses to apply for entry-level positions.
2. Complete an internship program through your local community’s non-profit organizations, clinics, or hospitals.
3. Acquire a master’s degree in social work if you want to further advance your career.

16. Career Advisor

Basic Overview: Perhaps the most challenging thing for a graduating student is choosing a career. This is where career advisors come in—they guide students in choosing which path to pursue.

Career advisors also teach students how to land their desired jobs. They give significant advice regarding decision-making and interviews.

Average Salary: $44,863

Education Requirement: Master’s degree in psychology or any related field

How to Get Started:

Career advisors are basically counselors. Here’s how to become one:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, human services, or any other related field.
2. Obtain a master’s degree in counseling, career services, or the psychology of human development.
3. Complete an internship program as a requirement for licensure and certification.
4. Take a counseling exam to obtain a license. These include the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
5. Get a certificate from the National Career Development Association (NCDA) to improve your credentials.

17. Interpreter and Translator

Basic Overview: Interpreters and translators help individuals, companies, and communities foster good communication and connections with each other. In this position, you can work in hospitals, schools, courtrooms, and corporations.

Average Salary: $51,629

Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in linguistics or a foreign language

How to Get Started:

Here’s how to become an interpreter or translator:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in linguistics or a foreign language. Attend formal interpreter and translator training while you are at university.
2. Take the interpreter or translator proficiency tests offered by the government. You may also try the examinations given by the American Translators Association or the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters.

18. Clergy

Basic Overview: Members of the clergy conduct religious worship and spiritual activities. They also offer spiritual assistance through counseling. There are clergy in all of the different religions.

Average Salary: $42,553

Education Requirement: Master’s degree in theology or religious studies

How to Get Started:

To become a member of the clergy, here are the steps to follow:

1. Choose a religious denomination—this will determine the process you need to follow.
2. Earn a bachelor’s degree in theology, religious studies, religious education, or any other related field.
3. Attend divinity school and acquire a diploma. Degrees from divinity schools are equivalent to master’s degrees.
4. Get ordained, depending on your denomination’s process.

19. Early Childhood Educator

Basic Overview: Early childhood educators offer their services to small children ages five years old and below. These teachers are responsible for teaching children how to read, talk, speak, etc. But more than that, they are also expected to prioritize the children’s safety and learning development.

Average Salary: $48,497

Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education

How to Get Started:

To be a child’s first teacher, here are the things you need to do:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from an institution accredited by your state’s board of education.
2. Complete an internship program or a student teaching practicum to complete the requirements for graduation.
3. After graduation, take your state’s licensure examination for teachers and educators to get a license and certification.

20. Special Education Teacher

Basic Overview: Special education teachers offer their services to children who have special needs (e.g., autism, ADHD). As educators, their main duty is to design curricula that will help special children develop their learning abilities.

More importantly, these educators attend to the children’s needs in terms of behavioral and social aspects.

Average Salary: $52,727

Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in special education

How to Get Started:

To become a special education teacher, here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Obtain a bachelor’s degree in education or special education. Some states may require a master’s degree. In this case, you will need to get one that specializes in teaching children with special needs.
2. Get a license and certificate from the state where you plan to work so you can teach special children in public and private schools.
3. As an option, you may further advance your career by choosing an area of specialization.

21. High School Teacher

Basic Overview: As a high school teacher, your main job is to educate and mentor teenagers, and prepare them for the future. Like all other teachers, you will need to prepare lesson plans and monitor your students’ progress.

High school teachers also help in organizing extracurricular activities to develop children’s social skills.

Average Salary: $48,932

Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in education or any other related field

How to Get Started:

Here’s how to become a high school teacher:

1. Acquire a bachelor’s degree in education, with a specialization in the field you wish to teach (e.g., mathematics, physics, English).
2. Complete your student teaching internship, again in the subject you wish to teach.
3. Take the licensure examination offered in the state where you want to practice.

Final Words

It is one thing to find a job that you will love for the rest of your life, but it is even better to land a job that can help you become a better person.

When you know that you are contributing to the community and helping other people, you feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment. You are confident that you are an integral part of society.

With a job like this, you are able to increase your happiness while enriching other people’s lives. And, as you get better at what you do, you become a happier individual.

We hope that the jobs we shared above helped you figure out which profession suits you the best. We recommend checking out each job and conducting your own personal research so you can determine if it will satisfy you or not.

Finally, if you want to find the best career for your personality, then take this FREE career test that matches your personality and interests to real-world careers.