20 Top Ethical Careers That Make A Difference

Your career is much more than a job. It’s where you spend the majority of your time during your adult years, where you connect with coworkers who become like friends and family, and where you make your greatest impact on the world. For many of us, we would prefer to spend this time doing something that we enjoy and that helps make a positive impact on the world. Today’s society is increasingly focused on finding purpose and meaning in life and finding employment in an ethical career can help.
“Ethical careers” is a broad term that refers to careers that are focused on social or environmental responsibility in some way. Sectors can include community and social work, health, education, science, medicine, biotechnology or urban planning. In addition, non-profit and religious work can be a very fulfilling avenue for those seeking an ethical career. We’ve reviewed some of the top ethical career choices below along with typical educational requirements and average salaries from Payscale.com.
 
Science & Technology
Those who enjoy scientific and mathematics fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer programming, calculus or statistics can put their skills to good use in a variety of ethical science and technology jobs. Here are just a few of the top ethical science and technology careers:
 
Clean Energy Engineer
The renewable energy sector, particular wind and solar, has taken off in recent years. Clean energy engineers work to advance renewable energy technologies that reduce harm to our environment and planet. They may research, plan and develop new machinery and equipment, oversee clean energy production processes, work to increase efficiency, and analyze environmental impact. Daily job duties could include conducting site inspections, using computer modelling software, overseeing installation projects, managing environmental law compliance, project management, technical reports, and other advisory roles.
Typical Education: Bachelors or Masters
Average Salary: $73,746
 
Bioethics Consultant
Bioethics consultants work to advise companies and individuals through ethical health and biotechnology decisions, legal matters and policy issues. They work with healthcare professionals and patients to assess complex patient care situations, and provide guidance to patients, their families and medical staff. Some of the issues they might tackle include clinical research ethics, end of life scenarios, sexuality and gender, assisted reproductive technologies, genetic testing, mental health care and other patients' rights issues.
Typical Education: Masters + Healthcare Ethics Consultant-Certified (HEC-C) program
Average Salary: $57,055
 
Ethical Hacker
Ethical hackers work to look for and exploit weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the system before the "bad guys" do. They work closely with their employers to legally and ethically find flaws in computer systems or networks so they can be fixed. These careers are extremely important to protect our nation's cybersecurity as well as companies’ IT networks and individuals’ private data.
Typical Education: Bachelors or higher + CEH certification
Average Salary: $80,903
 
International & Human Rights
There is great need to police companies and individuals to ensure human rights are being protected across the world. Ethical jobs in this sector protect international trade and labor, and work against slavery, human trafficking and other human rights violations.
 
Ethical International Trade Advisor
Ethical trade advisors seek to understand and mitigate the economic, environmental and human rights impacts of international trade. They often act as consultants to large corporations to ensure that all business operations remain in compliance with both international law and basic ethics. They work to reduce modern day slavery, ensure fair wages, and protect labor rights.
Typical Education: Bachelors
Average Salary: $57,000
 
HSI Agents
As a division of ICE under the Homeland Security department, the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agency works to combat various crimes and immigration violations that threaten national security. The agency operates with a special focus on human trafficking and smuggling, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, the production and distribution of child pornography and other human rights violations.
Typical Education: Bachelors + training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
Average Salary: $77,018
 
Corporate Ethics & Compliance
As our world changes, corporations are beginning to place a growing importance on their sustainable and ethical business practices. Corporate accountability is vital and the demand for these types of jobs is growing. New business graduates seeking to make a difference in the world may be pleasantly surprised to find out there is ample opportunity to reform corporate America from the inside out.
 
Chief Sustainability Officer
Most major corporations today employ a top level executive to manage their environmental programs, certifications and initiatives. Chief sustainability officers oversee sustainable practices in supply-chain management, waste management, recycling programs and carbon footprint reduction. CSOs are also responsible for ensuring company compliance with certification programs such as Organic, Fair Trade or B Corporation certifications. Demand for such positions is rapidly increasing, and most MBA programs today are beginning to include a sustainability component.
Typical Education: Masters
Average Salary: $88,261
 
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
Corporations are increasingly placing an emphasis on their social responsibility efforts and philanthropy. The role of a CSR manager or director is to manage these efforts to positively impact their community and the world. CSR managers work to make ethical business decisions, make strides towards sustainability, remain in compliance with social and environmental laws, and work closely with non-profits to give back to the local community. They help ensure a company’s commitment to corporate diversity, ethical labor practices, and climate-smart environmental policy decisions. A CSR manager may also help execute PR activities and work to create successful branding strategies for these initiatives.
Typical Education: Masters
Average Salary: $119,460
 
Ethics & Compliance Director
Similar to the CSO or CSR positions, a director of ethics and compliance works to ensure adherence to legal guidelines and in-house policies to maintain satisfactory business ethics. With a greater focus on compliance, they may lead internal investigations, conduct compliance training, implement internal controls, manage company policy, mitigate compliance risks and advisor senior leaders and executives.
Typical Education: Masters
Average Salary: $154,025
 
Non-Profit
With a wide range of non-profit organizations working to positively impact their communities, careers at these organizations are often deeply fulfilling and have the potential to create lasting change at the local, national or even global level.
 
Volunteer Organizer
Volunteer organizers work with a volunteer workforce, typically that of a non-profit, to ensure program success in the community. Typical job duties include recruiting, hiring, training and managing a non-profit’s active volunteer base.
Typical Education: Associates
Average Salary: $39,444
 
Development Officer
Development officers work in a fundraising and donor relations capacity for non-profit organizations. They may manage capital campaigns, work closely on major gifts fundraising, manage donor communications and relationships, and assist with grant writing or event planning. Non-profit careers are ethical by default and working as a development officer gives employees a chance to directly impact their favorite cause by raising funds.
Typical Education: Bachelors
Average Salary: $53,951
 
Executive Director, Non-Profit
A job as an executive director for a non-profit is a fantastic opportunity for those seeking an ethical career. As the top-level position of a non-profit organization, executive directors manage the goals, vision and direction of their organizations’ programs and daily operations. One can make a very big impact on their local community and even the world as a non-profit executive director.
Typical Education: Bachelors or Masters
Average Salary: $67,157
 
Environmental
For those who care deeply about our world and its resources, an ethical career in the environmental sector is a very satisfying way to participate in a job that aligns with their values. There are many different positions that cater to environmentalists, but here are a few top picks:
 
Conservation Scientist
Conservation scientists work closely with governments and private landowners to protect the environment and natural resources. They often advise farmers and ranchers on the best ways to sustainably operate their agricultural activities. They might oversee activities to ensure compliance, negotiate terms for land-use contracts, establish plans for managing natural resources, analyze field tests to make decisions, study the effects and prevention of wildfires, and evaluate water or soil quality. In short, they study the land and its resources in order to ensure ethically responsible operations.
Typical Education: Bachelors or Doctorate
Average Salary: $51,879
 
Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers are usually hired by private companies as well as government agencies to monitor pollution, work on large environmental projects, conduct inspections for environmental compliance, and design or manage environmentally sound systems and projects. They may also work to help define public policy and law and often work as expert witnesses in court. Similar to conservation scientists, they work to ensure that human impact on the environment stays at a minimum.
Typical Education: Bachelors
Average Salary: $65,635
 
Environmental Lawyer
Environmental lawyers handle cases involving natural resources and environmental compliance issues. This could include cases surrounding pollution, endangered wildlife, sustainable agriculture, hazardous waste disposal, wetland protection, conversation and land preservation. They help hold both businesses and individuals accountable to their environmental practices. They may also advise others on issues surrounding ecology and stewardship of natural resources, participate in public advocacy work, and lobby for additional laws or changes in existing law.
Typical Education: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD)
Average Salary: $84,865
 

Social / Community Sector
There is a plethora of ethical job options in the social and community sectors. Every aspect of society, from public health to child welfare, can benefit from the skills and passions of an individual driven to effect social change. The burden of entry is often much lower in this sector, with many positions requiring just an Associates or even just a high school diploma in some instances. Here are just a handful of the career opportunities that await you in this field:

Social Worker
As part of the human services sector, social workers help people in their communities in a variety of ways. Social worker jobs can be found in healthcare settings, schools, child welfare and human service agencies, community development organizations, and other similar workplaces. They typically identify and assist people in need in the community. Social workers assess their clients’ current needs, refer them to community resources and advocate for future programs. They also respond to crisis situations such as mental health emergencies and cases of suspected child or elder abuse. Clinical social workers may help diagnose and treat mental disorders and other behavioral issues. A career as a social worker is a great way to ethically assist those in your community most in need of help.
Typical Education: Bachelors or Masters
Average Salary: $47,600
 
Community Health Worker
Community health workers often serve as a bridge between medical professionals and their patients. They may also be called patient advocates or peer health educators. They help members of their local community with insurance issues, privacy concerns, accessing government and public health resources. They typically work with high-risk, disadvantaged and underserved populations. They encourage members of the community to get the screenings and other services they need, educate local populations on health concerns, assess patient risk and help track health goals.
Typical Education: Associates or Bachelors
Average Salary: $38,128
 
Child Welfare Specialist
Child welfare specialists typically work for government agencies such as DHS, CPS or DFPS. Child welfare specialists work with children and families involved in abuse, neglect and abandonment cases. They work to find safe places for children in the foster care system, with family members or in adoptive homes, and work towards family reunification wherever possible. Assisting the local community in this way can be very rewarding.
Typical Education: Associates or Bachelors
Average Salary: $40,975
 
Animal Welfare Officer
Animal welfare officers typically belong to state and local government agencies or police departments. They oversee matters of animal welfare such as investigations of animal abuse, cruelty or neglect, illegal breeding, illegal import and sale of wildlife, illegal ownership of exotic animals, farm and ranch inspections, and other animal rights violations. They may also manage the capture and care of dangerous or stray animals, testify in court cases, rescue trapped or injured animals and enforce licensing laws and other local regulations. In addition, they work to humanly control local wildlife populations and educate the public on communicable diseases such as rabies.
Typical Education: Associates or Bachelors + additional certification in some states
Average Salary: $36,330
 
Minister of Religion
Working as a rabbi, priest, pastor or imam can bring great emotional, social and spiritual fulfillment to individuals who are so inclined. Religious leaders have a great impact on their local communities through prayer, financial assistance, emotional support and spiritual guidance. In addition to leading religious services, duties include administrative responsibilities, ministering to members in need, and performing important rites such as weddings and funerals.
Typical Education:  Bachelors + specialized religious training
Average Salary: $53,324
 
Housing & Urban Development Specialist
Jobs at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) work to improve local communities through providing ethical urban planning and development, equal housing opportunities, rental assistance programs, FHA mortgage insurance programs, and other initiatives concerning our nation's housing needs. The agency's goals are to expand homeownership, increase access to affordable housing, strengthen communities through economic development, fight housing discrimination and work to alleviate homelessness.
Typical Education: Bachelors
Average Salary: $101,347
 
Summary
While any job has the potential to leave a positive and ethical impact on your employer, your community and the world – there are some jobs like those listed above that are much more fulfilling than others by default. We hope this guide of 20 top ethical career options is a helpful starting point to you as you investigate job opportunities that fit your career goals, values and passions.