People choose careers for lots of different reasons. Some are driven by the desire to earn as much money as they can. Of course, we all need money to live on and the vast majority look for work that will provide them with the most comfortable life possible, but it’s not always the biggest factor. Our skills, experience and personal interests will also guide our path and our choices, but there is another powerful motivator that fires more people than we realize: altruism.

Altruistic people are working in the service of the people around them, selflessly dedicating their time to making their community a better place to live and giving something back to the world. If helping others sounds like a career path that would get you out of bed in the morning, you’ll be pleased to hear that there is a wide range of careers which could be perfect for you including healthcare, education, law enforcement, social work, and working with renewable energy to aid in the fight against climate change.

These jobs vary greatly in terms of the education and aptitude levels required, from a school diploma and specialist training to bachelor’s degrees and beyond, but there is something for everyone on this list.This guide includes a wide range of careers that put you in a position of support and/or require you to serve your community in some way. If altruism is a key motivation for you when choosing a career, you may be able to find your perfect path right here.

Health Educator or Community Health Worker

A health educator is involved in educating people about healthy lifestyles and other health related topics and, where appropriate, referring them to healthcare providers and/or resources. The health educator will devise a health program according to the needs of their community and analyze the impact of the program on the community.A community health worker manages the delivery of those programs and can represent their community when trying to improve healthcare resources for the community. Community health workers require a high school diploma and will then need to pass some specific training, while health educators may require a bachelor’s and a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)accreditation.

Community Service Manager

A community service manager (also known as a social services manager) is in charge of coordinating a range of programs and organizations for the benefit of the community. From the research, planning and administration, to managing the social workers who are delivering the programs, and assessing the impact on the community, they can make a huge difference in terms of a community’s quality of life. They will also be involved in improving the community’s local services on an ongoing basis, which requires a high level of people skills. Usually a community services manager will have a bachelor’s degree but some may have more advanced education such as a master’s degree and experience of project management and social care.

Social Worker

While a community services manager will lead the planning and development of social services and community programs, it is a social worker who is usually more directly involved in delivering those programs. A social worker willinteract with the people in their community regularly in order to help them improve their lives and overcome challenges. This could be related to health, childcare, employment, mental health, family trauma or addiction in the community, for example. They are key in ensuring that people in the community receive the support and resources they need to overcome difficult periods in their life. To be a social worker you will usually need to have a bachelor’s degree and a license, but you can advance to a clinical social worker with experience and a master’s degree.

Urban Planner

The physical environment around a community is crucial in enabling them to thrive and an urban or regional planner helps direct land use in the area. By working with the community and public officials,urban planners can lead projects intended to improve, expand or revitalize areas of land and local facilities. They do this through research, data analysis and evaluations, which enable them to make recommendations or advise on proposals. These professions often require a master’s degree.

Local Law Enforcement

A community’s law enforcement officers protect their community in many ways and are essential in preserving order and keeping people safe. They do this via patrols, by enforcing the law, identifying illegal activities, and arresting suspected criminals when required. The police also respond to calls for assistance from the community, interview suspects of criminal activity, and may be involved in criminal investigations or testifying in court. Law enforcement officers can also operate at a state or federal level. Police officers require at least a high school diploma, need to be over 21 years old and physically fit, must be US citizens, and must have passed police training. They are also expected to continue to learn during their career.

Parole Officer

A parole officer plays an important role in the criminal justice system, and, as a result, in their community. Parole is the term given to the process of releasing an inmate from prison before they have completed their full sentence. For example, this may happen if an inmate has demonstrated good behavior while in prison and/or has taken steps to improve their prospects such as taking part in educational courses. These inmates may be released early based on certain conditions. For example, they may have to agree to report to their parole officer on a regular basis, to live in a certain geographical area (and not leave it) and/or not break any laws or possess weapons. If the inmate breaks those conditions, the parole can be revoked and they will be sent back to prison.

The job of a parole officer, however, is not simply ensuring that the inmate meets the conditions of their release. The most important part of their role is to work with both the inmate and the criminal-justice system to devise a parole plan which will enable the inmate to have the best chance of building a new life and to prevent them from offending in the future. Transitioning from prison to society while not falling back into their old lifestyle can be a frightening and challenging time for inmates. The parole officer is there to help the inmate create a better life for themselves, help them to reintegrate into their community and, by reducing the number of reoffenders, can help ease the burden on the prison system.

Firefighter

Firefighters serve their community, the local environment, and property in many ways, but obviously the most common is through the prevention and extinction of fires. However, firefighters are also called upon to help the community in many other ways, such as responding to emergencies and providing care for injured people, particularly when firetruck equipment is required. They often put their own lives in danger for the good of the community and are one of the most highly regarded professions for this reason. To be a firefighter you will need to have a high school diploma and then will need to complete specialist training at a fire academy. You’ll also need to have a good level of physical fitness and a driver’s license.

Renewable Energy Installer

Climate change is a global issue which is becoming more and more urgent with each passing day. While it can feel like a mammoth task, the key to instigating significant change is for each of us to make simple changes to our everyday life. An individual’s contribution may seem small, but together we can make a difference. This is why a career in the renewable energy industry could be the perfect path for technically minded or practical people. For example, solar PV panel installers and heat pump mechanics are in high demand as more and more people are trying to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their energy costs. These roles often require only a high school diploma but there is lots of potential for growth if you choose to run your own business.

Environmental Engineer

An environmental engineer is someone who works with organizations to minimize their negative impact on the environment. For example, when a company plans to build on land, an environmental engineer can advise them on how to prevent pollution to the natural environment and avoid impacting on wildlife in the area. Environmental engineers are also involved in improving public health and can even be involved with forming policy. An environmental engineer will usually need a bachelor’s degree and those who progress onto project management can earn particularly high salaries.

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists can be involved in helping members of the community to improve their quality of life, from children to the elderly. This may include working with people who are suffering with physical or mental illnesses to return to work or volunteer in the community, enabling elderly people to retain their independence through adaptations to their home, or supporting someone who is adjusting to living with a life-changing injury or recovering from major surgery. It could also involve working with children with learning difficulties such as those on the autism spectrum. To become an occupational therapist, you would need to study for a master’s degree and then obtain a professional license.

Dietitian

Our diet plays a crucial role in maintaining our health and well-being both physically and mentally. Dieticians are qualified to advise their clients on a range of issues from weight loss and weight management, to eating disorders or illnesses which can be worsened or improved through diet such as diabetes. Dieticians require a bachelor’s degree and may specialize as they gain more experience, often working with doctors on a patient’s treatment plan. It’s worth noting that, unlike a dietician, a nutritionist does not require formal education or qualifications to advise people on their diet.

Doctor, Physician or Surgeon

Doctors, whether physicians or surgeons, are clearly crucial in our communities as they can literally save the lives of patients, not to mention the huge impact they have on the general health and wellbeing of the patients under their ongoing care. Becoming a doctor requires at least nine years of study and specialized training and, once qualified, they face a busy and often stressful working life. However, these careers are highly paid and in terms of doing something worthwhile with your career, it doesn’t get better than saving lives.

Registered Nurse

While doctors are usually focused on the medical care of patients in terms of assessing and diagnosing health issues, prescribing medication and performing surgery, it is registered nurses who are more directly involved in the day to day care of patients. In addition, nurses can take on extra responsibilities in their community by training to be a nurse practitioner who in some states can prescribe medication and devise treatment plans. Nurses can also be involved in educating the community about health care and disease prevention. Typically, nurses will need a bachelor’s degree but there are plenty of nursing roles which require less education such as a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

School Teacher

If you want to serve your community now and in the future, educating children is an incredible way to do it. Educating children is (or should be) about far more than simply teaching them to pass tests; the best teachers are instrumental in shaping a community’s citizens of the future and enabling children to fulfil their potential. From instilling them with the key skills they will need in life such as reading, writing, math, knowledge of science and geography, appreciation of history and a respect for the different religions and cultures of the world, teachers are literally creating a more positive future for the world.

Counselor

The term counselor can refer to a diverse range of roles in different areas of the community, but essentially a counselor provides support and help to people to who are facing challenges in their life. Counselors usually specialize in a particular field such as mental health counseling, trauma, family breakdown, marriage counseling, addiction or substance abuse, rehabilitation, career counseling, academic counseling or education. Counselors often support people through talking therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, experiential therapy, and/or group therapy.