Looking for the best jobs that help people?

Whether you are looking for a full-time job or a way to make extra income, there are many ways to make money by helping others.

Picking a job that matches what you want to achieve personally and lets you help others can feel really good. In lots of different fields, jobs where you can help people have become very popular.

Whether it’s teaching, counseling, healthcare, or responding to emergencies, each job lets you change someone else’s life for the better. If you like the idea of helping out your community and giving assistance to those who need it, there are plenty of rewarding jobs that might be right for you.

Now, that doesn’t mean the jobs below are easy. While you may feel good knowing that you are helping people, many of these jobs are very hard. But, you will know that you are truly helping people and changing the world for the better.

30 Best Jobs That Help People

Below are 30 full-time and part-time jobs helping others in crisis, in your community and at homes.

1. Social worker

If you’re someone who likes to help others, becoming a social worker might be the perfect job for you. Social workers support people who face challenges in their lives. This could mean working with children, families, or even whole communities.

Social workers might work in schools, helping kids and families get through tough times, or in hospitals guiding patients through health challenges.

2. Teacher

A teacher’s job is about more than just giving lessons. The job is to guide and help students understand new information. When you teach, you make a real difference in the lives of your students.

Teachers work in different settings, such as at a public school, private institution, or even provide one-on-one education as a tutor. Some teachers work online too, which is a great option if you’re looking for more flexibility.

You can choose to become a kindergarten teacher, high school teacher, college instructor, or anything in between.

Recommended reading: 36 Best Side Jobs for Teachers To Make Extra Money

3. Nurse

Nurses play an important role in healthcare, helping people feel better and stay healthy.

I have met so many amazing nurses in my life, and it is such a helpful career path. I still very much remember all of the wonderful nurses who helped me when I was in the hospital giving birth to my daughter – these nurses were amazing and helped me so much, and I truly felt like they cared.

Nurses can work from home, in a hospital, or even in a law firm. A similar career path where you can help people is to become a nurse practitioner, with a higher salary and extra responsibilities.

Recommended reading: 27 Best Side Hustles For Nurses To Make Extra Money

4. Personal trainer

If you like staying active and want to help others, becoming a personal trainer could be a great fit for you.

As a personal trainer, you’ll get to work with people every day, helping them achieve their fitness goals. It’s not just about showing exercises; it’s about motivating and guiding people to live healthier lives.

Here are some of the things that personal trainers do:

• Create workout plans.
• Show people how to exercise correctly.
• Keep track of a client’s progress.
• Teach clients about healthy lifestyle choices.

Personal trainers are found in places like gyms, fitness centers, and sometimes they can even come to your home. Some trainers lead group classes, while others give one-on-one sessions.

5. Occupational therapist

An occupational therapist (OT) helps people of all ages do different activities that are important for their daily lives, work, school, and leisure. Some examples of occupational therapy include:

• Dressing – OTs help individuals in selecting appropriate clothing and developing strategies to independently dress themselves.
• Eating – OTs may recommend adaptive equipment or techniques to help individuals with feeding difficulties.
• Household chores – They provide strategies to make household chores more manageable for individuals with physical or cognitive limitations.
• Job tasks – OTs help individuals develop skills and strategies to perform job duties effectively and safely.
• Community integration – They support individuals in participating in community events, clubs, and social gatherings.

As you can see, OTs help people in so many ways.

They work in places like hospitals, schools, or even patients’ homes are common spots for occupational therapists.

6. School counselor

School counselors play a big part in guiding students toward their future.

They help with class schedules, give advice, or plan big steps like going to college or finding a job. This job is important because school counselors help students do their best and feel good about themselves.

They also help in other ways, such as helping students who are going through a hard time in life, like helping them with handling a mental health issue or even dealing with the passing of a parent. They are very much needed in all schools!

7. Substance abuse counselor

Substance abuse counselors help people fight addiction and get their lives back on track. Their job is important because they guide people through tough times, showing them how to stay away from drugs or alcohol and live a healthier life.

They meet with people and listen to their stories, teach them new ways of dealing with problems without using substances, and support them as they make changes to better their lives.

8. Physician

Being a doctor is a way to make a big impact in your community, as everyone knows.

Depending on the specialty, they can check your health, find out what’s wrong when you’re sick, and give you the right medicine to help you feel better.

Doctors are important because they help us when we’re sick and also keep us healthy. They listen to our concerns, offer comfort, and provide treatments. This makes a big impact on many people’s lives every single day.

9. Lawyer

A lawyer’s main job is to protect the legal rights of their clients. This means giving advice based on the law and, sometimes, defending your client in court.

A lawyer might work at a large law firm, for businesses, or for everyday people with different problems. Lawyers tend to specialize in one area of law, like helping injured people, family issues, working with businesses, traffic tickets, and so on.

10. Paramedic

Paramedics are the people who arrive first when there’s a medical emergency.

Their job is to take care of people who are hurt or very sick, right there on the spot or while they’re on the way to the hospital for further treatment. They give first aid and other medical care, stay calm under pressure, and drive an ambulance if needed.

11. Firefighter

Firefighters are trained to fight fires and keep people, buildings, and nature safe. They rescue people and animals from burning buildings, help at accident scenes, and teach the public about staying safe from fires.

This is a tough job that every community needs.

12. Nutritionist

If you like helping people and love everything about food and health, think about becoming a nutritionist! A nutritionist is someone who helps people eat better and live healthier lives.

A nutritionist is a health expert who knows a lot about food and how it affects our bodies. They look at what people eat, their health goals, and make personalized plans to help them eat better. Nutritionists teach people about healthy eating, help with meal plans, and give support to make lasting changes in lifestyle.

They work in different places like schools, hospitals, or their own offices to help people be healthier through good nutrition.

13. Pediatric sleep consultant

Getting enough sleep is super important for babies and their parents. But sometimes, parents have trouble making sure their baby sleeps well.

This can lead to some parents getting nearly no sleep, and it impacts their life, their job, and their mental health.

That’s where pediatric sleep experts come in handy. They know a lot about helping kids sleep better, which helps families have better nights. If you really like working with kids and want to help them, becoming a sleep coach could be a great career option for you.

This is an area that so many parents need so that they can continue living their lives.

For me, I have taken many tips from pediatric sleep consultants so that I could help my child sleep better, and so that I in turn could get sleep as well. These were life-changing tips!

Recommended reading: How To Become A Sleep Consultant And Make $10,000 Each Month

14. Dentist

Dentists work with teeth and gums, and they help keep your mouth healthy as well as fix problems when they come up.

If you have a cavity, they can fill it. Or if you have something more serious, they can fix it too. Dentists tell you how to take care of your teeth so you can keep them strong and avoid future problems.

15. Psychologist

Psychologists help people deal with their feelings and thoughts by listening to people and understanding their problems. They work in schools, offices, and sometimes even online.

They ask questions, do tests, and figure out the best way to help people feel better.

16. Police dispatcher

Being a police dispatcher is an extremely important job that helps people in crisis.

Dispatchers have an important job in keeping communities safe and making sure everything runs smoothly. They answer emergency calls when you call 911 and send out the right help.

17. Police officer

Police officers in law enforcement keep areas safe by stopping crime and making sure laws are followed. They patrol the streets, keep an eye out for any trouble, and if someone calls for help or there’s an accident, police officers are the first to arrive.

A police officer’s work is very important for everyone’s safety. They are trained to handle many kinds of situations.

Some police officers have a degree in criminal justice, but not all have college degrees.

18. Massage therapist

Massage therapists use their skills to help relax tight muscles and ease pain. They work in many places like spas, hospitals, or sports centers.

This is a career path where you can make others feel physically better, relieve stress, and feel relaxed.

19. Speech and language therapist

Speech therapists (also known as speech-language pathologists) help people of all ages overcome difficulties with communication, as well as swallowing disorders.

Speech therapists work with children and adults who face challenges with speaking and understanding others, help those who have trouble eating or swallowing due to health issues, and create fun and engaging exercises to improve clients’ speech and language skills.

Many, many people use speech-language pathologists these days, especially for young children, and it is such a needed career path right now. Many cities have very long waitlists because there simply are not enough speech therapists, so this can be a very helpful career choice to get into.

20. Rehabilitation specialist

Rehabilitation specialists give support to those who need a little extra help due to health troubles like injuries or mental health challenges.

A day in the life of a rehabilitation specialist could include working with kids or adults, helping them with their skills to live a good life (kind of like teaching and cheering on someone as they learn or remember how to do important daily stuff).

These jobs are often found in places like hospitals, private clinics, or community centers.

21. Caregiver

Caregiving roles are very important careers that help people who really need it.

Caregivers play an important role in the lives of those who need help due to age, sickness, or disability. They provide support and company, making a real difference every day.

Caregivers do things like cook meals, drive people places, or just talk to make someone’s day brighter.

22. Home health aide

A home health aide is somewhat similar to a caregiver. Caregivers and home health aides both help people who need support with daily activities because of sickness, disability, or getting older. However, caregivers usually do a wider range of tasks like keeping people company, driving people places, cooking, and doing chores.

Home health aides focus more on personal care, such as helping with bathing, dressing, and reminding about medications. Home health aides often get formal training and might work under a nurse or another healthcare worker, while caregivers might not have formal training and often work on their own or for agencies.

Home health aides have an important job where they help people who need extra care to live comfortably in their homes. People like seniors or those with disabilities count on them to be there for them.

23. Translator

Translators connect people who speak different languages, and this job is important because they help people understand each other.

Translators work in many places. Some work in hospitals, making sure doctors and patients understand one another. Others translate books or websites, so everyone can enjoy stories or information, no matter what language they speak.

Many translation jobs let you work from home. Some jobs are full-time, and some are part-time. You can find what fits your life.

Recommended reading: 28 Ways To Get Paid To Text And Make Money

24. Environmental engineer

Environmental engineers figure out how to keep nature clean and safe. They sometimes work on projects that prevent pollution or create plans to fix damage that’s already been done, like cleaning up oil spills.

25. Pharmacist

Pharmacists know all about medicine, fill doctors’ prescriptions for patients, and explain how to take the medicine safely. This is a job that helps people because people need medicine in order to feel better.

Pharmacists work in pharmacies, drugstores, clinics, and hospitals.

26. Optometrist

Optometrists are eye doctors that help people see better. They check your eyes, find out if you need glasses or contacts, and can spot eye troubles before they become a bigger issue.

Eyes are important, of course, and so this is a job that definitely helps people.

27. Midwife

Becoming a midwife might be a great job for you if you enjoy helping people and have an interest in healthcare. Midwives are healthcare professionals who help women before, during, and after they have a baby.

Midwives work in different places, such as in a hospital, in a clinic, or visiting moms at their homes.

I had a midwife and doctor team for my pregnancy, and the midwife was amazing. She made me feel comfortable and was very friendly and calming.

28. Conservationist

Conservationists get to spend their days outdoors, helping plants and animals survive and stay healthy. They research and learn about different species and find ways for humans to live alongside them without causing harm.

The planet is home to incredible animals and places, but some are at risk. Conservationists help protect these natural wonders and make sure there are plenty of wild areas for animals to thrive in. They also work to keep the air and water clean for everyone to enjoy.

29. Dental hygienist

Dental hygienists are important in preventing and treating oral diseases. It’s more than just cleaning teeth.

They also teach patients how to take care of their mouth, show them the right way to brush and floss, and help them understand why oral health is so important.

30. Blogger

Okay, so I realize that this option is not like any of the rest.

But, I have personally helped thousands of people over the years with my blog, so I think being a blogger definitely helps people. I have received many emails and letters from readers who have said that I helped them pay off their debt, stop living paycheck to paycheck, reach retirement, and more.

With a blog, you can help people understand different topics, learn actionable tips, get motivated to reach their goals, and more.

If you enjoy writing and sharing stories or expertise, becoming a blogger might be right up your alley. A blogger creates content for a blog, which is an online space for posting thoughts, knowledge, and insights.

Your blog can become a helpful resource on topics you’re passionate about. Whether it’s cooking, personal finance, or even traveling, your words could be valuable to someone else.

I started Making Sense of Cents back in 2011. Since then, my blog has made over $5,000,000.

I didn’t plan to make money when I started the blog. It was just a way for me to keep track of my own money journey. At first, I didn’t even know people could make money from blogging or how to make a successful blog!

But after only six months, I started earning money from my blog.

You can learn how to start a blog with my free How To Start a Blog Course (sign up by clicking here).

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions about how to find jobs that help people.

What is the best career to help others?

The best careers to help others include becoming a social worker, teacher, nurse, therapist, counselor, and firefighter.

What job helps people with their money?

Financial planners or advisors help people manage their money effectively. They provide advice on investments, savings, and budgeting to help individuals achieve their financial goals and secure their future financial stability.

What job can I do to make people happy?

Many of the jobs above can help people become happy, such as being a teacher, personal trainer, school counselor, nutritionist, pediatric sleep consultant, psychologist, and massage therapist.

What are some jobs that help people’s mental health?

Mental health counselors and therapists give support and treatment to people dealing with mental illnesses. They play an important part in improving their clients’ emotional and psychological well-being.

What are some creative jobs that help others?

Art therapists help people deal with stress, trauma, or sickness by using creative activities. They combine the healing power of art with counseling techniques to support healing and personal development.

What are jobs that help people in crisis?

Jobs that help people in crisis include substance abuse counselors, social workers, registered nurses, and art therapists.

What are jobs helping others without a degree?

A bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctoral degree is not required for all jobs that help people. For example, home health aides and personal care aides help people with daily tasks and give companionship. Typically, formal education is not required, but training and a caring personality are important to actually help people.

Best Jobs That Help People – Summary

I hope you enjoyed this article on the best jobs that help people.

When you think about jobs that help others, you might think of social work or healthcare right away.

But there’s a wide range of options, including jobs in teaching, therapy, public service, and even technical fields like translation or environmental engineering.

Each of these jobs is important for making our community better and healthier, often by working directly with people to make their lives better. These roles give more than just a paycheck – they give you the satisfaction of knowing that your work helps people outside of the office too.

What do you think are the best jobs that help people and pay well?

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