Everyone has different definitions of their “dream job.” For some, a lucrative salary is the goal. For others, job satisfaction comes in the form of a healthy work-life balance. A number of people seek careers where they can put their passions to practice and find enjoyment in what they do. And, increasingly, many individuals look for jobs that help people, where they can make a real difference in others’ lives.
However, as it stands, a large number of working adults are not in careers that fit their bill. According to recent studies, less than half of American workers say their job is fulfilling. And, as a result, almost 3 in 5 workers are now seeking a career change.
Perhaps that is why you are here. If helping people is a key motivator for you, and you are seeking a more meaningful career, we have good news. There is an abundance of available jobs that involve helping people, across industries like healthcare, human services, education, and more.
Below are 8 examples of amazing jobs that help people in need.
1. Nurse Practitioner
For years, nurse practitioners have been ranked among the best careers in the United States. In 2024, U.S. News ranked nurse practitioners the #1 career nationwide, due to the high job satisfaction and rewarding nature of the role. Nurse practitioners are offered great compensation, with an average annual salary of $126,000, as well as high job security and room for career advancement. However, these factors aren’t the driving force behind the smiles that nurse practitioners sport. Rather, it’s their ability to make a real difference in patients’ lives. “At the end of the day, that’s what motivates these advanced practice registered nurses – the opportunity to help people,” writes U.S. News.
Nurse practitioners act as primary and specialized care providers. They offer comprehensive care and treatment to patients in need, from the initial assessments and exams, to the treatment and monitoring of patients’ progress. Typically, nurse practitioners study in specific areas of healthcare, like family practice, women’s health, pediatrics, geriatrics, and mental health, to help people within certain demographics or populations. One in-demand job is that of a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), who helps treat patients with mental illness and psychiatric conditions. As mental health needs increase across the United States, the demand for these specialized services will grow.
To become a nurse practitioner, a master’s degree in Nursing is required. At Goodwin, you can become a Nurse Practitioner through the Family Nurse Practitioner program or the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing master’s program.
2. Medical and Health Services Manager
Also ranked among the top 10 best careers in America, according to U.S. News’ 2024 list, is that of the medical and health services manager. These professionals are also known as health administrators and healthcare executives, and have the power and voice needed to make real change within the healthcare system. However, unlike nurse practitioners, medical and health service managers do not provide patient care. These leaders help people indirectly, through management and oversight work.
Specifically, medical and health services managers ensure that any and all patients in their facility receive top-quality services and care. Among their many responsibilities, these managers confirm that staff are skilled, providers are attentive, facilities are clean, patients are happy, and operations are running smooth. They manage medical teams, create schedules for departments, hire new providers and employees, establish goals for the organization, and make plans to ensure those goals are being met.
On average, health managers, directors, and administrators earn over $110,000 annually in the United States, making it a top-paying career that involves helping people in need. The job outlook for healthcare managers is also expected to grow quickly, at a rate of 28 percent between 2022 and 2032.
To become a health services manager, you need to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, though a master’s degree is preferred. At Goodwin, you can launch this helpful career by earning a:
- Bachelor’s in Health Science,
- Bachelor’s in Nursing,
- Bachelor’s in Public Health,
- Master’s in Nursing, or
- Master’s in Public Health
3. Social and Community Service Manager
Social service managers act as the voice for the communities in which they work. They coordinate and manage programs that support specific communities’ well-being and public health. This includes understanding their community’s needs, suggesting improvements, implementing services, and increasing awareness about struggles within a given population.
Social and community service managers may work with a variety of demographics in need, such as the homeless, low-income populations, chronically ill patients, elderly people, or veterans. They may also help people with specific challenges, such as hunger and malnourishment, substance abuse, or mental health issues. No matter which path you take within this field, you can rest assured you will be in a career that helps people in need.
This profession is listed as one of the best careers helping others, not only because of the personal reward but also the financial benefits. Social and community service managers can expect a comfortable salary of about $77,000 annually.
In order to land a job as a social and community service manager, it is required to have at least a bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree may be in a related field such as human services, public health, or social work. Some employers may require a master’s education. To start this path at Goodwin, you have the option to earn a Bachelor’s in Human Services or public health degree.
4. Dental Hygienist
For jobs that involve helping people directly, the role of a dental hygienist is a top consideration. Dental hygienists are ranked among the top three best healthcare support jobs today. These professionals help others promote and maintain good oral health, by cleaning patients’ teeth, examining for oral disease, and educating people on proper, preventative oral care. Oral health is vital to controlling bacteria and preventing infections like gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer.
Dental hygienists earn a median salary of more than $87,500 annually, making it a promising profession for those looking to help people. Plus, it requires a short investment in school. To become a dental hygienist, you need to complete an associate degree in Dental Hygiene as well as licensure in your state. So far, the above career options require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, but the dental hygienist position can be achieved in just two years’ time. Most Goodwin students complete the dental hygienist school in 24 months, though the program can be customized to meet your individual needs.
Discover all that Goodwin University has to offer and how we can help you achieve your professional and academic goals!
5. Occupational Therapy Assistant
Another career that involves helping others, and that can be obtained with a two-year associate degree, is an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA). Occupational Therapy Assistants help people recover the skills and functions needed for daily living, such as getting dressed, brushing their teeth, or even performing their jobs. OTAs help people to recover skills that may have been lost due to an injury, a stroke, or a health condition (like cerebral palsy, or arthritis) that caused damage to bodily functioning.
For this reason, an OTA career is all about helping people in need – people that need help living out their daily lives and regaining purpose or function. OTAs will help these patients hone the skills needed to relearn routine tasks, making their lives a little bit easier.
On average, Occupational Therapy Assistants earn over $67,000 annually. The rate of employment for OTAs is also growing exponentially, with a 23 percent increase in jobs expected by the year 2032. With that in mind, you can expect to find many job opportunities after completing an associate degree in the OTA specialty, as well as licensure as an OTA.
6. Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Counselor
For years, the United States has been up against a devastating drug epidemic, with more people overdosing on opioid drugs than ever before. The rates of substance addiction have skyrocketed as opioid drugs become increasingly available, but also as poor mental health becomes more widespread across communities. As rates of depression and anxiety rise, so do people’s inclination to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. And its these habits that begin the addiction cycle.
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors work hard to help people who are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as other behavioral disorders. These professionals are ranked number three on U.S. News’ list of best social services careers because of the important work they do. The job satisfaction, specifically the ability to help people, is the driving force behind many counselors’ career choice. As one professional explains, “I love this work… To see folks grab onto hope and begin to get their lives more orderly is phenomenal.”
Typically, those looking to become counselors in the substance abuse, behavioral health, or mental health space need at least a bachelor’s degree. Mental health counselors in particular might require a master’s degree for some positions. However, the investment in education is well-worth it. When you have the ability not only to change someone’s life, but to save their life, the feeling of gratification is irreplaceable.
Goodwin offers a Certified Addiction Counselor program for individuals interested in this line of work. This certificate may be tied to an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, or may be pursued independently of other education.
7. Registered Nurse
When thinking about the best careers helping others, we cannot forget the critical role of the Registered Nurse (RN). Registered Nurses are, perhaps, the most well-known and valued members of the healthcare team. There are more than three million RNs currently employed in the United States, making it the largest career sector within the healthcare industry today.
Registered Nurses are brave and compassionate professionals whose primary role is to help people who are sick, injured, and disabled. On a daily basis, RNs evaluate patients, monitor cases and conditions, perform medical procedures, administer medications, collect lab samples, coordinate treatment plans, and ensure patients are cared for throughout their visits.
There is a famous quote known among nurses that goes: “When you’re a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.” Nurses have the unique opportunity to help patients (and family members) through some of the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their lives. They get to help all types of people, from all different backgrounds, and are often inspired by their patients.
Employment of Registered Nurses is constantly on the rise, as new treatments come forth, epidemics take place, and as a record-breaking number of older folks require healthcare services. This lends way for great job security, upward mobility, and new prospects within the field. Additionally, Registered Nurses earn over $86,000 annually in the United States, with the potential for a greater salary depending on where you reside. For example, RNs earn six figures (more than $101,000) per year in Connecticut.
To become a Registered Nurse, you need an associate or bachelor’s degree in Nursing. An associate degree in Nursing will qualify you to enter the workforce fast, where you can join the ranks and start making a difference in hospitals, emergency rooms, physician’s offices, and other clinical settings. Meanwhile, a Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) can position you for advanced leadership and specialized nursing roles where your voice will be heard in the larger arena of healthcare and medicine.
8. Funeral Service Director
While many of the above careers help improve people’s lives through health and safety services, let’s not forget about the funeral service industry. A funeral service director, also known as a mortician, has the ability to make a unique, yet lasting impact on the lives of others. Specifically, funeral service directors help family members grieve and honor the death of their loved ones. While this may seem like a dark career path at first glance, funeral service directors are often seen as a shining light during some of the most vulnerable moments of a person’s life.
When a loved one passes on, it can be hard to coordinate the details of their funeral or think through how you will honor and celebrate their life. A funeral director’s main responsibility is to help with this process. These professionals help coordinate and manage the details of funeral ceremonies, working closely with family members to ensure all their needs and wishes are met, while easing the burden of planning such events. Additionally, funeral directors often act as a shoulder to lean on when these families need support. They may offer counseling and aid through difficult times, or suggest support groups and resources for grieving families.
Funeral service workers, on average, earn between $50,000 and $76,000 annually across the United States, depending on the specific title. To become a funeral director or mortician, it is required to have relevant education. In Connecticut, funeral directors must have an associate degree in Mortuary Science, as well as hands-on experience in the field.
Finding a Career Helping Others
The above list encompasses just a fraction of the jobs that involve helping people. In addition to the professions listed above, those applying to Goodwin University may also find rewarding and impactful careers as:
- Business managers
- Behavior specialists
- Case managers
- Community outreach workers
- Counselors
- Environmental health officers
- Epidemiologists
- Health promotion specialists
- Instructional designers
- Licensed practical nurses
- Medical assistants
- Nurse managers
- Patient advocates
- Probation officer
- Public health educators
- Rehabilitation specialists
- Respiratory therapists
- Teacher leaders
- Victims advocates
- Violence prevention coordinators
- Youth development specialists
- And more!
Knowing that you want to make an impact, and help others in need, is only the first step in your career trajectory. Now you must think about how you will make a difference and the type of role you will pursue. Ask yourself:
- Do you want to be on the frontlines of your community, protecting the public health?
- Do you wish to work in healthcare, helping patients directly?
- Do you see yourself as a manager, directing and coordinating services that will in turn help others in need?
- Do you wish to help underserved people and populations, by facilitating access to resources they need?
- Do you desire to help people who are struggling with issues like depression, anxiety, trauma, and stress- who are in need of mental health care?
- Do you feel pulled to the field of education, where you can help shape the minds of the next generation?
- Are there certain populations or demographics with which you’d like to work? For example, children, families, crime victims, or other people in need?