Some people are born to help others. They receive genuine happiness from being a part of someone’s growth, whether that involves a medical breakthrough or passing a challenging test. Therefore, it makes sense for these people to find a career that accommodates this desire.
If you are the type of person who pictures yourself in a career that helps others, then good news—you have a lot of options. You could pursue a lucrative career in medicine, a career that involves plenty of conversation, or a career that doesn’t require as much education as others. Whatever your preferences, you are sure to find a compassionate role that suits your needs. For some inspiration, here is a list of ten varied careers that involve helping people.
1. Counselor
Counselling is helpful for many people. Some counselors work solely with mental health patients, but it’s not just those suffering from a mental illness who may require the help of a counselor. They can help people through grief, divorce, marriage issues, and much, much more. It’s all about helping people healthily process their thoughts and emotions.
To become a counselor, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree, with most counselors also holding a master’s qualification. You might also want to go into a specific counselling type, such as grief counselling, marriage counselling, or mental health counselling. There are many careers in counselling to choose from, which means you can pick the route that truly suits you. The salary you receive as a counsellor varies depending on the type of counselor you are and how many years you’ve been in the field, but to give you a general idea, the average counselling salary is $76K per year.
If you are an empathetic, hard-working person with a knack for conversation, then counselling might just be for you—especially if you have an interest in psychology and human behavior.
2. Registered Nurse
Nurses help multiple people every single day. In fact, almost everyone has been helped by a nurse at some point in their lives, whether that is from getting a shot or being looked after post-surgery. As a registered nurse, you would take on a wide range of tasks involving a wide range of patients. It’s an intense role that requires dedication, stamina, and emotional strength.
To become a registered nurse, you will need to complete an associate’s degree, and the average salary is around $75K per year. If you like the idea of improving people’s health in a busy work environment, it could be the perfect role for you.
3. Dentist
Becoming a dentist isn’t an easy path, but there are many rewards. The work that dentists do is vital. Not only do they help treat dental problems, but they also advise patients on the best way to look after their oral health. They are experts in everything to do with teeth and gums, and they work hard to deliver the best treatment possible.
To become a dentist, you must complete a relevant doctoral or professional degree on top of a bachelor’s, which takes around seven to eight years in total. The work at dental school is anything but easy, but if you are passionate about helping people and have an interest in science and biology, you are likely to do very well.
4. Teacher
The word “teacher” covers a wide scope of careers. It can range from teaching four-year-old kids their ABCs to teaching deeply intelligent adults about neuroscience. Each teacher role requires different teaching styles, personality traits, and education levels, but they all have one common requirement—the desire to help people flourish.
If you wish to teach high schoolers, then you will need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with a preference for a master’s; if you wish to teach at college level, a minimum of a master’s degree with a preference for a doctorate or professional degree is required. High school teachers make an average of $50K per year, while college professors make around $158K.
Choosing which type of teaching career to enter is entirely personal. You should consider what age range you would like to teach, which subject, and in what sort of environment.
5. Physical Therapist
After surgery or injury, many people struggle with pain and are unable to move as they did previously, and that’s where the aid of physical therapists come in. Physical therapists are highly trained medical professionals that work with patients to improve physical movements and effectively manage pain. It involves a lot of knowledge about the human body alongside the ability to evaluate patients and guide them through treatment.
A doctorate or professional degree is required to become a fully qualified physical therapist. By earning a doctor of physical therapy, you will earn an average salary of $89K per year and be able to help patients lead a more fulfilled and pain-free lifestyle.
6. Surgeon
Becoming a surgeon is not for everyone. It’s an extremely intense career that requires high levels of education (a doctorate or professional degree is a must), excellent skill, deep knowledge, and consistent precision. For the right person, though, the benefits are excellent—a career that helps people live better, and even survive, alongside an average salary of $299K per year.
The impact of a surgeon’s work knows no bounds. They consistently save lives and treat injuries through operations, a job that only highly trained professionals with medical licenses can do. If you think you have the skills, intelligence, and drive to become a surgeon, you could make a real impact on people’s lives. Just make sure you are prepared to put in around eight years of education (including four years in medical school) on top of at least three years of training.
7. Personal Trainer
Personal trainers help people reach their peak fitness levels. They work with a range of clients, from those who are new to exercise to those training for sporting events. It’s a great way to help people, as exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.
To become a personal trainer, you need a minimum of a high school diploma, but a bachelor’s degree in a subject such as exercise science is a great bonus. There are certificate programs that you’ll need to complete to become a personal trainer, but the process isn’t usually too long. Most importantly, you should have a genuine passion for fitness, health, and the human body, alongside confidence and excellent communication skills.
8. Dietician
Dieticians require a bachelor’s in a relevant field, such as nutrition science, and earn an average of $64K per year. The ultimate aim of their role is to provide knowledge and advice to patients about what they eat. They get to know the patient, and through understanding their particular needs, will come up with a nutrition plan that suits their lifestyle.
As the role is so focused on health and food, an interest in science is a must. It also helps if you are passionate about healthy eating—if you spend your days eating fast food with little nutrition knowledge, it’s probably not the career for you!
9. Financial Advisor
A financial advisor provides a different type of service than the other careers listed here, but they still help people in a significant way. Their goal is to advise their clients on what to do with their money, whether that includes putting a certain amount in savings or budgeting correctly. For certain clients, this can even help them get out of overwhelming debt, which, in turn, helps reduce stress.
If you are interested in becoming a financial advisor, you should know that you can expect to earn around $87K per year, and that you will need a bachelor’s in a finance-related subject. You should also have an interest and knack for mathematics, business, and finance in general. Finally, having good communication skills will help you in this role, as you will spend a lot of your time talking to clients about their finances, which means relaying complicated matters in simple terms—a skill that not everyone has!
10. Home Health Aide
Becoming a home health aide doesn’t require advanced education such as a bachelor’s, but you should have a high school diploma, a certification, and a genuine desire to help people. In this role, you can expect to earn an average of $25K per year.
Home health aides work with sick patients by visiting their homes and helping them with their daily tasks, such as toileting, bathing, and feeding. Due to the nature of the role, you should be a kind, patient, and considerate person who is committed to making people as comfortable and happy as possible.
Do You Have What it Takes to Spend Your Time Helping People?
Choosing a career that helps people is an excellent decision, but you must first make sure you are a compassionate, caring, and empathetic person. All ten of these roles are challenging at times, but no matter how challenging they get, you must always be willing to put in your best efforts for the benefits of those you are helping, whether that’s a client, a patient, or a student.
