40+ Fulfilling jobs that help people (salary and resume advice)

Working in a job that helps others is not just a noble pursuit but also offers personal fulfillment while significantly impacting the lives of those you assist. But where to start? Jobs that help others can be found across industries from education, to healthcare, law, tourism, and more. You’ll need to consider your personal ambitions, current skills, and ideal work environment before choosing an industry to focus on.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 40+ jobs that actively make a difference in the lives of others, along with their average salary ranges based on U.S. data. We’ve also linked to numerous resume samples to help you get started crafting the perfect application for each job.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this blog:

• 40+ job titles that involve helping others with primary responsibilities
• Salary ranges based on U.S. data for these job titles (Source: Salary.com)
• Resume examples for many of the job titles listed

Education jobs that help others

1. Teacher. Responsibilities include developing lesson plans, instructing students, communicating with parents, assessing student progress, and fostering a positive learning environment. Salary range: $49,119 to $71,640 per year.
   Teacher resume example
2. School Counselor. Responsibilities involve guiding students on academic and personal issues, conducting mental wellness assessments, and collaborating with parents and teachers to meet student needs. Salary range: $46,871 to $57,608 per year.
3. English Teacher for Foreign Students. Responsibilities include teaching English language skills to non-native speakers, creating curriculum, and facilitating cultural exchange. Salary range: $46,391 to $58,965 per year.
   ESL teacher resume example
4. Early Childhood Educator. Responsibilities encompass nurturing and educating young children, designing age-appropriate activities, and supporting developmental growth. Salary range: $39,707 to $49,190 per year.
   Early childhood educator resume example
5. Principal or Education Administrator. Responsibilities involve overseeing school operations, hiring and managing staff, implementing policies, and maintaining a safe learning environment. Salary range: $57,286 to $71,806 per year.
   Principal resume example
6. Special Needs Teacher. Responsibilities include creating individualized education plans (IEPs), adapting curriculum, and providing support to students with autism and other disabilities. Salary range: $49,229 to $81,781 per year.
   Special education teacher resume example

Medical jobs that help others

1. Registered Nurse. Responsibilities involve caring for patients, administering medications, coordinating with healthcare teams, and providing emotional support. Salary range: $62,300 to $111,740 per year.
   Nurse resume example
2. Doctor. Responsibilities include evaluating patients, diagnosing illnesses, prescribing treatments, and measuring outcomes. Salary range: Varies widely based on specialty, general physicians typically earn between $198,142 and $255,973 per year.
   Doctor resume example
3. Pharmacist. Responsibilities involve dispensing medications, counseling patients, ensuring drug safety, and collaborating with healthcare providers. Salary range: $142,674 to $161,288 per year.
   Pharmacist resume example
4. Speech-Language Pathologist. Responsibilities include assessing and treating speech and language disorders, and working with patients of all ages. Salary range: $84,390 to $99,890 per year.
5. Licensed Nurse-Midwife. Responsibilities involve providing prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care to women, along with educational resources for new mothers. Salary range: $93,776 to $126,065 per year.
6. Licensed Psychologist. Responsibilities include evaluating and treating mental health disorders, conducting therapy sessions, and psychological assessments. Salary range: $82,960 to $111,117 per year.
   Psychologist resume example
7. Dentist and Dental Assistants. Responsibilities include oral health care, performing dental procedures, and educating patients on oral hygiene. Salary range for dentists: $173,633 to $218,143 per year.
   Dentist resume example
8. Optometrist. Responsibilities involve conducting eye exams, diagnosing vision problems, and prescribing glasses or contact lenses. Salary range: $126,991 to $154,261 per year.
   Optometrist resume example
9. Surgeon. Responsibilities include performing surgeries, preoperative and postoperative care, and collaborating with medical teams. Salary range: varies widely based on specialty, typically $367,292 to $515,472 per year.
10. Pediatrician. Responsibilities include providing medical care to children, diagnosing illnesses, and promoting children's health. Salary range: $194,500 to $266,800 per year.

Emergency service jobs that help others

1. Firefighter. Responsibilities include responding to fires, medical emergencies, and other incidents, performing rescues, and conducting fire prevention and public education. Salary range: $61,289 to $82,708 per year.
   Firefighter resume example
2. 911 Dispatcher. Responsibilities involve answering emergency calls, dispatching appropriate responders, and providing assistance and guidance to callers in distress. Salary range: $38,400 to $48,900 per year.
3. Paramedic. Responsibilities include providing emergency medical care, administering medications, performing life-saving procedures, and transporting patients to medical facilities. Salary range: $44,142 to $54,688 per year.
   Paramedic resume example
4. Police Officer. Responsibilities involve enforcing laws, responding to emergencies and incidents, conducting investigations, patrolling assigned areas, and ensuring public safety. Salary range: $59,600 to $69,400 per year.
   Police officer resume example
5. Emergency Physician. Responsibilities include providing immediate medical care in emergency departments, diagnosing and treating various acute conditions, stabilizing patients, and overseeing emergency medical teams. Salary range: $312,900 to $414,900 per year.
6. Relief Worker. Responsibilities encompass providing humanitarian aid during crises or disasters, and assisting affected populations with food, shelter, medical care, and other essential needs. Salary range: $28,581 to $36,896 per year.

Social services jobs that help others

1. Home Health Aide. Responsibilities include assisting clients with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and providing companionship. Salary range: $26,572 to $31,695 per year.
   Home health aide resume example
2. Substance Abuse Counselor. Responsibilities involve providing therapy, counseling, and support to individuals dealing with substance abuse disorders, conducting assessments, and developing treatment plans. Salary range: $51,440 to $66,100 per year.
3. Social Worker. Responsibilities include assessing clients' needs, providing counseling and support, coordinating resources and services, and advocating for clients' well-being. Salary range: $65,093 to $79,244 per year.
   Social worker resume example
4. Chaplain. Responsibilities encompass offering spiritual guidance, emotional support, and counseling to individuals in hospitals, military settings, hospices, or other institutions. Salary range: $59,003 to $72,624 per year.
5. Interpreter. Responsibilities include facilitating communication between individuals who speak different languages or have limited English proficiency in various settings such as healthcare, legal, or social services. Salary range: $45,164 to $56,017 per year.
6. Marriage and Family Therapist. Responsibilities involve providing therapy to couples and families, addressing relationship issues, guiding communication, and promoting healthy family dynamics. Salary range: $57,339 to $80,932 per year.
   Marriage and family therapist resume example

Fitness and wellness jobs that help others

1. Nutritionist or Dietitian. Responsibilities include assessing clients' dietary needs, providing nutrition advice, creating meal plans, and promoting healthy eating habits. Salary range for dietitians: $63,360 to $76,486 per year.
   Nutritionist resume example
2. Personal Trainer. Responsibilities involve designing fitness programs, demonstrating exercises, guiding clients in proper techniques, and motivating individuals to achieve fitness goals. Salary range: $48,446 to $82,489 per year.
   Personal trainer resume example

1. Massage Therapist. Responsibilities include providing therapeutic massages, assessing clients' needs, and using various massage techniques to alleviate pain and promote relaxation. Salary range: $51,779 to $66,443 per year.
   Massage therapist resume example
2. Physical or Occupational Therapist. Physical therapists help patients recover from injuries or surgeries, improve mobility, and manage pain, while occupational therapists help individuals perform daily tasks and regain skills. Salary range: $100,066 to $117,169 per year.
   Physical therapist resume example
3. Licensed Medical Esthetician. Responsibilities include performing skincare treatments, such as facials, chemical peels, and other cosmetic procedures. Salary range: $44,723 to $62,443 per year.

Legal jobs that help others

1. Attorney. Responsibilities include providing legal advice, representing clients in court, drafting legal documents, conducting legal research, and advocating for clients' rights. Salary range: $86,920 to $117,209+ per year, depending on experience, specialization, and location.
   Lawyer resume example
2. Judge. Responsibilities involve presiding over court proceedings, interpreting and applying the law, making legal decisions, and ensuring fair trials. Salary range: $176,620 to $201,507+ per year; federal judges' salaries vary widely.
3. Non-profit staff. Responsibilities vary widely but may involve program management, fundraising, outreach, advocacy, and/or administration. Salary range: varies significantly based on the position, ranging from around $83,058 to $108,684 per year.

Fun jobs that help others

1. Tour Guide. Responsibilities include leading tours, providing information about historical or cultural sites, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of tour participants, and offering insights into attractions. Salary range: $28,670 to $40,082 per year, varying based on location, employer, and experience.
2. Pet Sitter. Responsibilities involve caring for pets while their owners are away, including feeding, walking, grooming, and providing companionship. Salary range: varies widely based on location, services offered, and clientele, typically ranging from $29,758 to $37,507 per year.
3. Travel Agent. Responsibilities include arranging travel itineraries, booking flights, accommodations, and activities for clients, providing recommendations, and handling travel-related logistics. Salary range: $37,164 to $47,497 per year, depending on experience and commission structures.
4. Flight Attendant. Responsibilities involve ensuring passenger safety, delivering excellent customer service, serving food and beverages, and managing emergencies on flights. Salary range: $72,576 to $101,404 per year, based on the airline, experience, and flight hours.
   Flight attendant resume example
5. Personal Stylist. Responsibilities include providing fashion advice, selecting clothing and accessories for clients, creating outfits, and offering style consultations. Salary range: $51,332 to $62,323+ per year, varying based on clientele, location, and expertise.
6. Career Coach. Responsibilities involve helping individuals with career planning, resume writing, job search strategies, interview preparation, and professional development. Salary range: $44,348 to $55,693+ per year, depending on experience, certifications, and clientele.

Why choose a job that helps others

Studies have shown time and time again that humans are not solitary creatures. We are hard-wired to live and work together, creating societies that work towards the common good. While not everyone wants or needs to work a job that directly involves helping others, there are some clear advantages to doing so. Here are a few benefits to getting a job that helps others.

• Personal fulfillment. Jobs where you can help people often lead to a sense of personal satisfaction that comes from knowing you’ve made a difference in someone else’s life. Seeing the smiles, relief, or tears of joy that come from those you’ve helped can give you the motivation to get out of bed every day and go to work with a positive attitude.
• Continuous learning and growth. Just because you’re working a job that helps others doesn’t mean you can’t think about your own future at the same time. A great career is one that takes advantage of your personal strengths and allows you to learn skills you actually enjoy. From firefighter to personal stylist and everything in between, dozens of fields are both personally enriching and help others.
• Contributing to society. Whether we work in a job that helps others or not, we all benefit from safe, productive, and liveable communities. Jobs that help others can also improve society overall by taking care of children, the sick and the elderly, helping the less fortunate access the services they need, or increasing the well-being and happiness of those around you.
• Opportunities for advancement. Almost all of the jobs listed above are long-term careers full of potential for specialization, advancement, and increased responsibility and salary. By choosing one of these options, not only will you be helping people, you’ll also be establishing yourself in a mentally enriching and expanding field like health care, education, or law.

Key takeaways

• Dozens of jobs allow you to help other people. Industries range from medicine to education to social work and more.
• Certain career paths require more years of study but can offer high earning potential for years to come.
• A great resume is the first step towards your next job.