Are you feeling dissatisfied with a basic career that leaves you unfulfilled at the end of each day? You aren’t alone, as employees want to feel passionate about the work they’re doing and as though they are having a positive impact on the world. It’s a tall ask, but it can be achieved, especially if you understand yourself well enough to know your interests and skills. For many people, the answer is to work with children. Working with children means you’ll have the chance to make a positive impact on them and help to shape their lives.
Here we’ll take a look at some of the best career paths for those who want to work with children.
Care for Children in the Most Rewarding Way as a Pediatrician
Few jobs can offer you the personal rewards that a pediatrician does. You’ll be working to keep kids healthy and helping them through a variety of illnesses. Each day will be different, and your network of patients can be vast.
As you’d assume, you’re going to need extensive schooling and training to become a pediatrician, but the good news is that it’s a field growing at a faster-than-average rate. This means pediatricians are very much in demand across the country. You’ll find positions in outpatient settings or the home, and the annual salary is $191,371.
Director of Early Childhood Programs or Centers – A Great Way to Effect Change
Here’s a job that won’t have you working with kids in a hands-on manner, but you’ll be having a huge impact on their lives. In fact, as a director of an early childhood program or center, you’ll be able to effect change when it comes to curriculum development, education and even teaching strategies.
It’s not the traditional career path that you may think of when you want to work with kids, but it’s a job that can offer huge personal rewards. Obtaining your early childhood leadership certificate is also a great way to ensure you can be successful in this job and possess the many skills needed.
There Is a Strong Need for Occupational Therapists
Also in the medical field, the career of an occupational therapist focuses on children as your patients. This job deals with improving the patient’s physical mobility. This includes such things as self-care, playing, walking and so forth. You’ll be evaluating and then treating kids with disabilities, illnesses or injuries.
Just like the other jobs mentioned, this career path is also enjoying faster-than-average growth. As for the average pay, it was $85,570 as of 2021. Some of the settings you may work in include outpatient clinics, hospitals and even schools. Generally speaking, you’ll need a master’s degree in occupational therapy to work in this career and you’ll need to be licensed.
If you enjoy working with children, having a positive impact on their lives, and feeling like you are making a difference in the world, then each of these potential career paths could end up being perfect for you.
