8 Trending Careers That Help People

Whether you have a strong desire to connect with other people, help them through difficult times or just make the world a better place, what you do for a living is the perfect avenue for expressing this passion. Applying your skills to a meaningful cause can be done in numerous different ways and is not limited to working for a charity.

Helping others is a fundamental aspect of many different fields of work, including education, healthcare, law and protective services among others. What's more is that many of these jobs are not only rewarding because of the personal fulfilment they offer, but also in terms of their financial benefits.

It's no secret that doctors, surgeons and other professionals working in the healthcare industry earn handsome salaries, as is the case among lawyers, personal trainers and security specialists. With growing demand for qualified professionals in these sectors, high levels of job security and strong advancement opportunities are to be expected.

It's also worth noting that not all careers involving helping people require a high-level education. In many cases, a bachelor's degree is sufficient to get you hired. Some jobs often require little more than additional training. There are careers out there that are perfect for altruistic souls from all walks of life.

Let's take a look at eight that are currently trending, be it for the growth of job opportunities in the field, rising salaries or other noteworthy benefits. Careers are split into categories, making it easier to find what you're most interested in.

Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle

According to the World Health Organization, there's an urgent need for people to lead more active lifestyles, with over 25% of the global population not participating in enough physical activity. It wasn't long ago when the CDC reported that 80% of Americans aren't consuming enough fruits and vegetables.

Given the prevalence of certain diseases in modern Western society, particularly those with a strong link to diet and exercise, entering the wellness industry is a great way to do your part in making the world a better place. It's good news then that there's a strong demand for professionals who can help people achieve their lifestyle goals.

Dietitian: In this career, you'll typically work in a school, hospital or nursing home to formulate optimal meal plans for people with different dietary needs. Alternatively, you can operate your own private practise, thus offering a greater level of flexibility when it comes to when and how you work.

Qualified dieticians make up to £29,608 when starting off, while specialists earn between £33,222 and £43,041 per year.

Massage Therapist: As a massage therapist, you can not only help people feel great, but also de-stress and recover from injuries. Your job will involve assessing patients and their health conditions to determine a routine that helps them rehabilitate injuries and improve their overall wellbeing. A one year program is usually sufficient to get you started.

According to recent listings on Indeed, massage therapists can make upwards of £50 per hour.

Personal Trainer: Helping people exercise more and achieve their fitness goals is a great way to spend your working hours. A typical day for a personal trainer involves assessing clients and putting together appropriate workout routines based on their needs. If you have a knack for motivating people, then this is a great career option.

With about a year of experience, you can expect to make between £20,000 and £35,000 annually as a personal trainer.

Community Support

Every community can do with a bit of extra help, be it among children, in the workplace or legally. Let's take a look at three career paths that will help you live out your passion for helping others in a different, but equally important way to those working in the medical field.

Health and Safety Practitioner: The workplace can be a dangerous environment, especially in sectors such as construction. As a health and safety practitioner, it's your job to ensure that the risk of injury in a workplace is minimized, thus making it safe for workers and giving businesses peace of mind knowing their staff is protected.

While you may not necessarily need a university degree to enter this field, it's important that you obtain a relevant diploma to ensure that you're qualified and can enter a lucrative position. NEBOSH courses are one example of a direct way for health and safety practitioners get qualified.

Paralegal: Without the paralegals who work hard to resolve cases, many people would not receive the justice they deserve. This dynamic career involves interviewing witnesses, reviewing transcripts, performing research and a number of additional clerical duties. In some cases, you may also represent a client in court.

The average annual salary for a paralegal is £22,480 per year, according to Indeed.

Child Welfare Services Manager: In this career, it's your responsibility to ensure that children are protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation. This is a higher-level position that involves overseeing staff members, deliberating with government officials and controlling budgets.

You typically need a master's degree to become a child welfare services manager. Many people who are in this position today start out as social workers before moving their way up. According to TotalJobs, some child welfare services managers earn upwards of £50,000 per year.

Education

One of the most direct ways to make an impact is to help people learn the fundamentals of life and master new skills. Working in the education sector gives you the opportunity to shape future generations into intelligent and confident adults. If you're interested in helping people reach their full potential, consider the following career paths:

Early Childhood Educator: If your ideal workday includes a good dose of fun and joy, then creating exciting educational experiences for little learners is one way to make it happen. Early childhood educators typically work in preschools and nurseries to help children develop their thinking abilities and social skills.

According to Payscale, early childhood educators make an average of £13,067 - £23,619 per year.

Secondary School Teacher: Let's say you prefer something a little more challenging. If that's the case, then preparing teenagers for the real world is a considerable option. Your job will be to develop lesson plans and assess students in a variety of interesting subjects that will inevitably have you learning something new along the way.

The median annual salary for a secondary school teacher is around £30,000, while some earn up to £43,000 per year.

Other Meaningful Jobs

While the above career paths are all great options, they're far from the only ways to make a positive impact in your professional life. The security industry offers lucrative jobs like corrections officer and security specialist. In the social sector, you can become a substance abuse counsellor, human service assistant or community health worker.

Perhaps you have a passion for animals. In that case, you can become an animal groomer, veterinary assistant or veterinary technician. Maybe you have a keen eye for beauty and want to make people look and feel their best by becoming a cosmetologist, nail technician or aesthetician.

The sky's the limit here. Find a specific field that you feel most passionate about and take it from there.