80% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
30 Jobs That Help People, Ranked by Annual Openings (2026)
Home Health Aide tops this list at $35,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +17.0% projected employment change over 2024–2034. Below are 30 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
Occupations built around assisting and caring for others, ranked by projected annual openings so you can see where the need is greatest.
- Careers on this list
- 30
- Median pay on the list
- $46,545
- Projected to grow
- 23 of 30
- Openings a year
- 4,683,800
From 923 in the bank
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Combined, BLS EP
How we built this list
- Included when the occupation’s O*NET work activities centre on assisting and caring for others, or its Social interest score dominates the profile.
- Ranked by projected annual openings, so the list shows where the need is greatest rather than only where pay is highest.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The top 30 jobs that help people
Healthcare Support
- Median pay
- $35,800
- Growth
- +17.0%
- Openings / yr
- 765,800
- Education
- High school
Monitor the health status of an individual with disabilities or illness, and address their health-related needs, such as changing bandages, dressing wounds, or administering medication.
Healthcare Support
- Median pay
- $35,800
- Growth
- +17.0%
- Openings / yr
- 765,800
- Education
- High school
Provide personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities or illness who require help with personal care and activities of daily living support (e.g., feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and ambula…
Healthcare Support
- Median pay
- $42,260
- Growth
- +2.3%
- Openings / yr
- 204,100
- Education
- Certificate
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff.
4. Teaching Assistant, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $37,010
- Growth
- -0.9%
- Openings / yr
- 195,000
- Education
- N/A
Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
5. Teaching Assistant, Special Education
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $37,010
- Growth
- -0.9%
- Openings / yr
- 195,000
- Education
- N/A
Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher to provide academic, social, or life skills to students who have learning, emotional, or physical disabilities.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $97,550
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 189,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $97,550
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 189,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Provide advanced nursing care for patients with acute conditions such as heart attacks, respiratory distress syndrome, or shock.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $97,550
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 189,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with mental health or substance use disorders or the potential for such disorders.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $97,550
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 189,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $97,550
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 189,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Direct nursing staff in the provision of patient care in a clinical practice setting, such as a hospital, hospice, clinic, or home.
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $38,020
- Growth
- +0.4%
- Openings / yr
- 161,000
- Education
- High school
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules.
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $34,980
- Growth
- -2.9%
- Openings / yr
- 160,200
- Education
- High school
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions.
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $34,980
- Growth
- -2.9%
- Openings / yr
- 160,200
- Education
- High school
Care for children in private households and provide support and expertise to parents in satisfying children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs.
Healthcare Support
- Median pay
- $45,690
- Growth
- +12.5%
- Openings / yr
- 112,300
- Education
- Certificate
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician.
15. Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor
Community and Social Service
- Median pay
- $60,320
- Growth
- +10.4%
- Openings / yr
- 104,400
- Education
- N/A
Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
16. Mental Health Counselor
Community and Social Service
- Median pay
- $60,320
- Growth
- +10.4%
- Openings / yr
- 104,400
- Education
- N/A
Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $63,970
- Growth
- -2.0%
- Openings / yr
- 91,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Office and Administrative Support
- Median pay
- $45,930
- Growth
- +4.2%
- Openings / yr
- 85,900
- Education
- High school
Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures.
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $47,160
- Growth
- +11.9%
- Openings / yr
- 74,200
- Education
- High school
Instruct or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities for the primary purpose of personal fitness.
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $72,040
- Growth
- -1.6%
- Openings / yr
- 66,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $38,140
- Growth
- +4.1%
- Openings / yr
- 65,500
- Education
- Associate's
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
22. Substitute Teacher, Short-Term
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $41,670
- Growth
- +1.6%
- Openings / yr
- 61,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Teach students on a short-term basis as a temporary replacement for a regular classroom teacher, typically using the regular teacher's lesson plan.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $64,400
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 54,400
- Education
- Certificate
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions.
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $76,210
- Growth
- +3.1%
- Openings / yr
- 53,700
- Education
- High school
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances.
Healthcare Support
- Median pay
- $48,070
- Growth
- +6.4%
- Openings / yr
- 52,900
- Education
- Certificate
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist.
Community and Social Service
- Median pay
- $45,930
- Growth
- +6.4%
- Openings / yr
- 50,600
- Education
- High school
Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families.
27. Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $33,580
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 42,700
- Education
- No formal credential
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $64,370
- Growth
- -2.0%
- Openings / yr
- 40,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $37,290
- Growth
- +6.7%
- Openings / yr
- 36,300
- Education
- No formal credential
Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on a planned or scheduled basis.
Community and Social Service
- Median pay
- $59,550
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children.
Jobs That Help People: FAQ
What is the top career on the jobs that help people list?
Home Health Aide leads the list with a median wage of $35,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +17.0% over 2024–2034. Typical entry-level education is high school.
How was this list put together?
Occupations built around assisting and caring for others, ranked by projected annual openings so you can see where the need is greatest. Included when the occupation’s O*NET work activities centre on assisting and caring for others, or its Social interest score dominates the profile. Ranked by projected annual openings, so the list shows where the need is greatest rather than only where pay is highest. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET 30.3 Database.
How much do jobs that help people pay?
Across the 30 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $46,545 a year, from $33,580 at the bottom to $97,550 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
15 of the 30 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034).