Top Five Reasons to Choose a Career in Human Services

• Help People
• Help Society
• Enjoy Professional Autonomy
• Find Work Easily
• Earn a Good Living

If you want to make a direct impact in people's lives while enjoying the satisfaction of knowing that you're making the world a better place, you may want to consider pursuing a career in human services. The human services professions are oriented toward helping people get the resources and care they need to live safe, comfortable, happy lives, especially the most disadvantaged members of the community. These occupations typically require bachelor's or master's degrees in humanities, social sciences or health care fields. If you're deciding whether or not to follow this career path, here are five reasons to enter a profession in human services.

Help People

As a human services professional, you'll have the chance to help people get organized and back on their feet after experiencing hardship. Human services occupations include jobs in the fields of social work, health care, psychiatry and other disciplines related to physical and mental health and well-being. Health care workers and psychiatrists work with individuals in need to ensure that they receive the proper mental and physical care for their situation.

Help Society

Helping individuals goes a long way toward improving society as a whole. The human services professions are essential for keeping society fair and beneficial for everyone. Helping people find the resources they need to get back on their feet after a difficult situation helps to mend the social fabric in places where it has become tattered and frayed. With fewer people trapped in desperate situations, communities will have fewer crimes to deal with. The services performed by human services professionals can even save lives and save local governments the time and resources needed to deal with homeless populations, drug abuse and street violence.

Enjoy Professional Autonomy

With a bachelor's degree in a human services field, you'll be qualified to work as a social worker or caseworker in local communities. The job duties of these occupations can be very demanding, but they can also provide workers with a high degree of autonomy. Social workers and caseworkers typically have to drive to various locations throughout the day to meet with members of the communities in which they work. They also must consult with psychiatry and health care professionals to determine a course of action or treatment for the person assigned to their case. Human services professionals with advanced degrees typically work in clinical settings or private practices and have regular schedules.

Find Work Easily

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for human services occupations is expected to grow 16 percent over the next 10 years, which is much more quickly than average. As this career is essentially recession-proof, investing in a college degree or certificate is a good strategy for anyone who loves working with people and making a difference in society. Employers in this field will continue to be local clinics, nonprofit organization and charities offering services to disadvantaged members of the community.

Earn a Good Living

Social workers earned a median annual salary of $47,980 in 2017, according to the BLS. Half of all professionals in this field earned more than the median, and half earned less. The top 10 percent of earners in this profession took home $79,740 per year or more. Entry-level positions pay around $29,000 per year. The cost of a bachelor's degree in the human services disciplines is typically less than the average amount of salary in the first year of work. While this job may not make you rich, it will enable you to afford a very comfortable middle-class life.

Related Resource: The 25 Best Bachelors in Human Services Online

In modern society, it's easy for many disadvantaged members of the community to fall through the cracks. Social workers and caseworkers do the work necessary to ensure that the most vulnerable people have access to the assistance they need. If you're thinking about pursuing a career in human services, you should speak with an enrollment counselor about college courses in a field that interests you.