16 Best Social Impact Careers to Pursue

Whether you’re a highly empathetic person or simply can’t imagine a career that doesn’t involve helping others, a social impact career may be in your future.

Duke University defines social impact workers as “concerned with issues like social justice, equality, educational access and attainment, mental health, and individual community wellness.”

Workers can make a social impact in various sectors, such as healthcare, education, politics, research, and law.

But, with so many career options, how can you decide which is right for you?

In this article, I’ll explore some of the most popular social impact careers for people seeking purpose-driven work, and I might even cover some that you hadn’t even considered.

Methodology

But first, let’s explore how I compiled this list. I’ve curated career options in four categories:

Careers for people who love kids
Careers for people who love the elderly
Careers for allies to the LGBTQ+ community
Careers for anti-discrimination allies

If none of these categories describe you, try to be open-minded.

Even if volunteering at an elder care center or reading books to elementary school students isn’t exactly your idea of a good time, this article might inspire you to make an impact in an area that didn’t pique your interest before.

It’s also important to note that some careers appear multiple times—12 educators, for instance, could impact more than one of the above categories.

The information for each career will be specific to its assigned category.

Now that we’ve got all of that out of the way let’s get started.

Whether you’re seeking a career change after multiple years working a dead-end job or you’ve always found weekend babysitting gigs particularly enriching, numerous social impact careers focus on working with children.

1. Pediatric Licenced Mental Health Counselor

As Americans become more aware of mental health issues, more and more parents are seeking mental health care for their minor children. But, as the supply of mental health care providers is still catching up to the demand for them, pediatric mental health care workers are more important than ever before.

While you could pursue a variety of accreditations to become a mental health specialist in pediatrics, the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) certification is one of the most common.

Pediatric counselors can make a difference in a variety of sectors and industries, including:

Inpatient and outpatient mental health care centers
Public Education
College and career readiness programs
Non-profit organizations catering to children’s health
Community health care and wellness programs
Group homes
The foster care and adoption systems
Government organizations like Child Protective Services
Mental health care private practice

While LMHCs can be found in various settings, pediatric specialists are uniquely trained to help children who need counseling or other mental health care.

2. Pediatric Psychiatrist

While LMHCs are qualified to perform counseling services and serve other mental health care niches, psychiatrists are trained in medical intervention, including writing prescriptions for psychiatric medication.

While pediatric psychiatrists are qualified to treat patients with medical interventions, they also play a crucial role in reducing the stigma surrounding psychiatric medication. Psychiatrists typically possess resilience, attention to detail, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

There are a variety of certifications you could pursue on your way to a career in pediatric psychiatry:

MD, a Doctor of Medicine
DO, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
ARNP, APRN, CRNP, or NP, all certifications for Nurse Practitioners

All of these certification options require a significant investment in education. Still, if you want to learn as much as possible to impact children’s lives, a pediatric psychiatrist may be your ideal career path.

While Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) are educated and qualified to provide counseling services, LCSWs have more training in public resources and community care.

Pediatric LCSWs are crucial in the child welfare sector. They can provide counseling services to minors, direct them to public assistance resources, and advocate for them in the justice, medical, or foster care/adoption systems.

You can find LCSWs working in:

Inpatient and outpatient care centers, but not only facilities treating mental health
Group homes and the foster care/adoption systems
Hospitals providing pediatric care
The justice and penal systems
The nonprofit sector
Government organizations like Child Protective Services
Mental health care private practice

LCSWs generally have two career routes, and some pursue both simultaneously or oscillate throughout their careers. LCSWs can provide counseling services like behavioral interventions and talk therapy.

Or, they can advocate for children and connect them with public assistance resources.

This would be the perfect job for you if you could envision working with children, having the patience to navigate bureaucracy, and having an uncanny ability to cut through red tape.

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4. K-12 Public Educator

One of the most popular careers for people who want to work with children, K-12 educators in the public school system are some of the most important members of our society.

They educate future generations of scholars, artists, and scientists, and research shows that lack of education access is one of the leading predictors of adult poverty.

K-12 public educators don’t just guide children to educational benchmarks in the classroom—they make a crucial impact on child development, advocate for students in the education system and beyond, and actively invest time and social support in their students.

Many public educators are classroom teachers, but this isn’t the only career option for people who want to work with children in the public education system. Other jobs include:

Physical education instructors and school sports coaches
Guidance counselors
Youth mentors
Physical and occupational therapists
Special education teachers
English language teachers for children of immigrants
College and career readiness counselors
Administrators like principals, vice principals, and curriculum supervisors
Specialized educators
- Speech pathologists
- Reading coaches
- Remediation specialists

The K-12 public education system presents countless opportunities for people who want to impact the lives of children.

5. Guardian ad Litem

If you’re seeking a social impact career that impacts the lives of children and operates in justice system niches, consider the responsibilities of guardians ad litem.

Guardians advocate for and protect the interests of their wards on a case-by-case basis. This role is important to distinguish from the typical guardian or conservator role, where one adult is appointed to advocate for the best interests of one ward throughout the ward’s life or per the terms of a contract.

A guardian ad litem only represents a ward during one case.

Guardians ad litem typically represent wards in one of two circumstances:

During domestic dispute cases
- Child support
- Child custody
- Adoption
- Divorce
- Emancipation of minors
- Visitation rights

During incapacity cases
- When adults use the court to declare incapacity of an adult relative
- When parents sue the court to declare incapacity of a minor

Guardians ad litem work with the court system to discover, pursue, and represent the best interests of their wards, and they make a crucial impact on the lives of minors in the justice system.

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If you don’t see yourself pursuing a career involving children, consider working with the elderly.

Elder care and advocacy are crucial, and advocating for one of the most vulnerable populations is fulfilling and impactful.

6. Geriatric Clinical Psychologist

Clinical psychology, one of the largest specialty areas within the field, is a crucial career, especially for the elderly community.

Clinical psychologists diagnose mental health symptoms and disorders and treat them using a variety of intervention methods like cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, or humanistic therapy, to name a few.

While clinical psychologists and Licensed Mental Health Counselors treat patients using therapy-based interventions, clinical psychologists receive more clinical-based training and emphasize medical expertise.

This clinical expertise is crucial for treating elderly patients since elderly people are more likely to suffer from comorbid or additional health conditions like physical disability, organ or system dysfunction, or memory loss.

Clinical psychologists must take a more holistic approach when treating elderly patients, and their clinical knowledge is paramount to providing effective treatment.

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), as discussed in the pediatric section, are also qualified to provide counseling services.

In addition, they’re trained to direct patients to public assistance services and advocate for patients in a variety of sectors.

You can often find LCSWs working with geriatric patient populations in the following sectors and settings:

Inpatient and outpatient care centers, but not only for mental health treatment
The justice and penal systems
Government organizations, like the Administration on Aging
Hospitals
Homeless shelters, halfway houses, and other alternative residences
Long-term elder care facilities
- Memory care
- Assisted Living
- Nursing homes

Geriatric specialists are trained to address needs specific to elderly patient populations. This clinical niche provides significantly different training from a pediatric specialization or generalized LCSW training, and geriatric LCSWs are crucial to community care for the elderly.

8. In-Home Caregiver

One of the most hands-on, purpose-driven careers is in-home caregiving. While older caregivers represent a variety of ages, education levels, and specialized training, the ideal in-home caregiver typically has some level of medical training, like a CNA or RN certification.

In-home caregivers are in high demand—there were over 3.4 million jobs available for them in 2020. That number is expected to grow by more than 30% over the next ten years, significantly faster than the national average.

In-home caregivers provide a large range of services to patients of a variety of ages and abilities, but some common roles include:

Meal preparation
Companionship
Prescription administration and checking vitals
Overnight supervision
Bathing, dressing, and bathroom assistance
Chores like laundry, dishes, and cleaning
Escort and supervision outside the home for
- Doctors appointments
- Errands, like grocery shopping or prescription pickup
- Social engagements or family visits

In-home caregivers can seek work through agencies or contact families needing caregiving services directly. In-home caregivers significantly impact their patients’ lives and relieve significant stress for families with aging relatives.

If you’re seeking a socially impactful career, consider working with a minority population like the LGBTQ+ community.

LGBTQ+ people of all ages experience discrimination, but numerous crucial careers promote their health and well-being, providing medical care and advocating for this marginalized community.

9. LGBTQ+ Licensed Mental Health Counselor

As discussed in the pediatrics section, Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) provide patients with crucial counseling and therapy services. LBGTQ+ patients experience a significantly higher risk of mental health issues, and providers treating them must be empathetic to, educated about, and aware of the specific struggles of this marginalized population.

LMHCs specially trained to treat the LGBTQ+ population are in high demand, but providers don’t have to identify as LGBTQ+ to provide informed and high-quality care.

LGBTQ+ LMHCs work in a variety of careers, including:

Counseling at LGBTQ+-focused community centers and organizations
Providing services via a non-profit
Treating patients in private practice
Providing low- or no-cost care in community clinics
Treating patients in LGBTQ+-specific group homes

But, despite the opportunities for LMHCs with a specialty in LGBTQ+ treatment to work in spaces centered around this community, these specially-informed providers are needed in every mental health care niche.

Like LMHCs, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) are trained to provide counseling and therapy services. However, they can also provide a variety of other advocacy services, as discussed in both the pediatric and geriatric sections.

One of the responsibilities of the LCSW is to direct patients to public assistance services, which requires staying informed about the services available to patients.

As LGBTQ+ advocacy and awareness increase, more and more public services are becoming available to this marginalized population. LGBTQ+-specialty LCSWs are crucial for directing these patients to community support.

Unfortunately, one of the most pressing needs for LCSWs is in the justice system. LGBTQ+-related hate crimes are still on the rise, and victims of verbal or physical abuse deserve well-informed advocacy from specially-trained public servants like LCSWs.

11. Peer Mentor

Like in-home caregivers for the elderly, peer mentors to the LGBTQ+ community have a unique opportunity to make a hands-on, personalized impact on someone’s life.

Peer mentors provide social and emotional support to other community members. While they don’t have to have any specialized qualifications, people in their 30s and older generally have enough life experience to provide useful advice to younger peers.

Peer mentors can offer services individually or register with a local LGBTQ+ community center or outreach program.

While peer mentorship isn’t a replacement for professional counseling or psychiatric treatment, research shows that additional emotional, career, or relationship support from peers has positive outcomes for mentees and their mentors.

12. K-12 Public Educator

As discussed in the pediatrics section, K-12 public educators are crucial advocates for their students within and outside the education system.

While plenty of LGBTQ+-identifying educators work in public school systems around the country, any public educator can support their LGBTQ+ students.

Some impactful ways to make a difference for LGBTQ communities in public schools are:

Including more LGBTQ+ history in your curriculum and encouraging other school faculty to do the same
Sponsoring LGBTQ+ clubs, like chapters of the Gay-Straight Alliance
Promoting LGBTQ+-informed student treatment, like asking for and using students’ chosen names and pronouns
Advocating for the addition of gender-neutral bathrooms and locker rooms on public school campuses
Advocating for more severe punishments for LGBTQ+-related bullying, harassment, or discrimination on campus
Promoting gender-neutral dress codes and uniforms
Including LGBTQ+-relevant material in sex education and health courses

By committing to a teaching career that acknowledges and promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion in public schools, you can make a difference in the lives of countless students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

13. Medical Professional

As explored in the Licensed Mental Health Counselor section, there is a shortage of and high demand for LGBTQ+-informed counselors, and this is true of the entire medical system.

LGBTQ+ people often experience discrimination when seeking medical treatment, and recent data shows that even the potential for discrimination prevents LGBTQ+ people from seeking medical treatment.

Even if they don’t experience discrimination, LGBTQ+ people sometimes have unique medical needs, and many have to educate their providers on LGBTQ+-inclusive care.

By becoming an LGBTQ+-informed medical care provider, even in a specialty that doesn’t have any bearing on gender or sexual orientation, you can make the medical community a safer place for LGBTQ+ patients.

But, if you’re interested in serving LGBTQ+ patients specifically, consider some of the following careers:

Reproductive healthcare
- OB/GYN and Urology providers rarely use inclusive language when treating their patients or are simply uninformed about LGBTQ+ sexual health.
- By promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion in reproductive healthcare, you can improve access to gender- and sexuality-affirming care and provide more useful sexual health information to patients.

Endocrinology
- Endocrinologists can provide critical gender-affirming care for transgender patients by prescribing effective and appropriate hormone treatments.
- Hormone therapy is often a lifelong necessity for trans people, and the lack of access to LGBTQ+-informed endocrinologists is a serious issue in transgender communities.
- Endocrinologists often must sign off on gender-affirming surgeries like mastectomies and labiaplasties.

Plastic surgery
- Plastic surgeons often perform gender-affirming surgeries like the ones listed above.
- Access to gender-affirming surgeries is critically low, and access to these services is correlated with better mental health outcomes for trans people.

Positions in these disciplines range from CNAs to highly educated surgeons, and they all have the potential to positively impact LGBTQ+ people and the medical community at large.

Perhaps you’re interested in creating social impact in LGBTQ+ communities, but you want to zoom out to impact other marginalized communities.

Luckily, there are a variety of careers where you can serve numerous disenfranchised populations as an anti-discrimination ally.

14. Local Lawmaker

If you want to improve the quality of life for marginalized people in your community and beyond, consider running for local office. While you’re more than welcome to run for a higher-powered position, changes made at the local level are crucial to improving the quality of life for residents of those communities.

Policy changes to reduce discrimination and provide more public assistance for marginalized communities locally can also serve as an example for other local governments nearby and beyond.

Your community can become a beacon of inclusion, equity, and improved community care by serving as a test case for a more just society.

While you can receive specialized training for a life in politics by pursuing higher education, most local lawmakers in your community are likely people with little political experience and a passion for improving their communities.

So, even if you’ve spent most of your career as a nurse, teacher, or stay-at-home parent, you can still run for office and advocate for your community’s needs.

15. Sociology Researcher

The University of North Carolina defines sociology as ”the study of human social relationships and institutions,” these crucial elements define disenfranchisement and marginalization among minorities.

Sociology research informs countless social and political theories that define our everyday experiences, from how we’re treated at the grocery store to our ability to secure mortgage loans.

Sociology researchers are critical members of advocacy communities, and their expertise informs countless organizations doing good work for the most vulnerable populations, like:

Think tanks and policy centers
Colleges and universities
Political parties and caucuses
Public health organizations like the CDC and the WHO
Non-profit organizations
- Private assistance programs
- Arts, sports, and education advocacy groups
- Research and awareness organizations
- Scholarship funds
- Lobbying groups

When fighting for equity, activists, advocates, and politicians rely on crucial data about marginalized people and the systems that are supposed to serve them. That data has to come from somewhere—sociology researchers study systems, relationships, and communities to determine marginalized people’s current states and hypothesize methods to improve equality.

16. Attorney

A career as an attorney includes countless opportunities to make a social impact on the lives of individuals and communities.

They do this in two crucial ways:

They represent individual victims of hate crimes and discrimination or who undertake civil disobedience.
They represent and protect organizations attempting to make positive changes to policy, public assistance, or public opinion.

Not all attorneys working for marginalized rights provide pro-bono services—you can find socially impactful attorneys working for:

Legal aid organizations
Non-profits
Activism organizations like Black Lives Matter
Legal think tanks like Southern Poverty Law Center and the ACLU
Mental healthcare practices and organizations
Community health initiatives

By providing legal services to individuals or groups via any of the above channels, you can make a social impact and contribute to a more just society.

Related Resources

16 Best Social Impact Careers to Pursue

Methodology