20 Career Paths in Refugee Protection & Inclusion

Key Takeaways

Over 120 million people have been displaced worldwide, creating urgent demand for refugee aid professionals.

Refugee aid workers may work at an organization’s headquarters, in the field or in hybrid placements focused on research and logistics.

Common roles include case managers, interpreters, legal aid specialists and refugee settlement workers.

Salaries can range from $30,000 for entry-level positions to six figures for senior roles, which typically require a graduate degree.

Employers include the International Rescue Committee, UNHCR and Doctors Without Borders, plus state resettlement programs.

There are currently approximately 36.4 million refugees around the world, with more than half displaced from just a handful of countries, including Venezuela, Ukraine and Afghanistan. Forced to leave their home countries by factors beyond their control, this population faces complex challenges related to health, safety, legal protection and more. In the words of the UN: “We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record.”

Clearly, the stakes are high. Alongside an urgent need for volunteers, there is also a call for capable professionals and dedicated leaders in a variety of roles who can help tackle this increasingly challenging and complex problem. If you are interested in a career in humanitarian work, specifically working with refugees or immigrants, there are many available positions and career paths, depending on your interests and skills.

What Is a Refugee?

A refugee is defined as a person who has been forced to leave his or her country due to war, violence or persecution. Depending on the country, national governments or the UN Refugee Agency must determine whether someone meets the criteria of a refugee. A person who receives refugee status is protected under certain laws and conventions.

It’s important to distinguish between refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants:

Refugee: A person who has been forced to flee their country due to persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations and cannot safely return home.
Asylum seeker: A person who has left their home country and is requesting international protection, but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been legally determined.
Immigrant: A person who chooses to move to another country, usually for work, education, family or improved living conditions, with the intent to reside there long-term.

While they are entitled to different levels of protection and services, all three of these groups require special forms of support in their receiving country.

Refugees are a minority of displaced people globally. According to the UN Refugee Agency, another 68 million are forcibly displaced within their countries (making them internally displaced persons, or “IDPs”). More than 117 million people have been displaced around the world, and between 2018 and 2024, approximately 337,80 0 children were born each year as refugees.

Moreover, large and growing numbers of people are being displaced outside of their countries due to climate change. While these people are commonly referred to as “climate refugees,” in fact they have no official status as refugees, and are often officially classified as “economic migrants” (though many scholars believe that international humanitarian law must be adapted to the realities of the climate change era). This form of displacement is rapidly increasing and on pace to break new records as the effects of climate change intensify, perhaps displacing 216 million people within their own countries by 2050, according to World Bank Group.

Types of Careers Working with Refugees

Forcible displacement triggers a web of complex challenges related to nearly every part of a person’s life, from nutrition to education to physical safety; therefore, “jobs helping refugees” is by no means a small professional category. While many positions involve working directly with refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants on the ground, there are opportunities to work in other areas of refugee protection and inclusion that are equally as impactful.

Headquarter and donor country placements

This is a wide umbrella covering a variety of positions and responsibilities. You may work with domestic refugee resettlement programs, assist with grant applications, communicate with field work personnel, handle social media campaigns, write press releases, compile and organize reports, track spending, order supplies and more.

Fundraising

Most organizations that work with refugees rely heavily on donations, which makes fundraising crucial. Skilled professionals are needed to strategize fundraising campaigns, manage online fundraising and social media awareness and seek out potential donors. It’s also worth noting that many people tend to donate after or during a specific disaster or crisis, but humanitarian organizations need year-round donations, which involves a strong donor communication strategy.

Field placements

These positions are typically on the ground working directly with people experiencing displacement or seeking asylum. Support roles typically fall into three geographic categories, each offering a variety of job opportunities.

Sending countries help asylum seekers with tasks like completing refugee applications and managing the logistics of fleeing their home country. Positions in this area include asylum officers, logistics coordinators, legal assistance providers and protection officers.
Receiving countries accept asylum seekers and refugees and provide shelter, resources or services. Receiving countries typically share a land border with the sending country, but not always. Some refugees cross many borders, while others will re-settle within their same country of origin. For these internally displaced persons, the work in receiving countries will mirror the work done in sending countries. If you’re interested in a position in this particular area, you could help oversee the operation of refugee camps, coordinate medical care, provide mental health services or help ensure access to clean water and proper sanitation.
Third-party countries of resettlement, which accept refugees from receiving countries, often require dedicated services for refugee resettlement. This includes support for housing, job training, language learning and enrolling children in school, among other needs. Jobs in this area typically include assisting refugees in finding jobs, coordinating housing or facilitating the resettlement process. You could also become a language instructor or help families enroll refugee children in local schools.

Hybrid placements

Hybrid positions may alternate between field placements or working at an organization’s headquarters, either in-country or overseas. Two examples are:

Research — In these types of positions you may analyze or create policies, evaluate humanitarian assistance programs or conduct field research within refugee communities.
Logistics — Coordinating refugee protection and inclusion involves procuring supplies, managing the supply chain and handling the logistics of how and when the goods and services will be distributed.

What Skills Are Needed to Work with Refugees?

The type of skills you need will vary by career, but in general, the following are needed for most types of refugee protection and inclusion jobs:

Good communication: It’s important to effectively communicate not only with the people you’re helping but also with your peers and the community at large.
Organization: Working with refugees can encompass a lot of moving parts within a fast-paced timeline, which is why organization is key.
Problem-solving: Humanitarian work is challenging, and you will constantly face difficult issues and situations. The ability to think outside the box and address these obstacles in thoughtful, impactful ways is essential to success in this field.
Compassion and empathy: Refugees often face enormous adversity — lack of basic services, physical and sexual abuse, trauma, separation from family, financial struggles, discrimination, violence and lack of medical care. You may not understand everything they have endured, but you must be sensitive and empathic.
Ability to work in challenging, stressful environments: Relief work can be physically and mentally demanding and even dangerous at times, especially if you are located in an area prone to violence.
Sensitivity toward other cultures: You will work with people from different backgrounds, perspectives, religions and beliefs, so it’s important to be respectful and maintain a level of professionalism and cultural awareness.
Ability to speak multiple languages: Even if a position doesn’t require proficiency in a second language, being bilingual or even multilingual can be helpful. More than half of the global population speaks just 23 languages; aside from English, these include Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish, French, Modern Standard Arabic, Bengali, Russian, Portuguese and Urdu.
Resilience: Working with refugees requires psychological endurance and the ability to bounce back from tough, challenging situations that may drain you physically, mentally and emotionally.
An understanding of humanitarian issues: If you’re looking for a job in humanitarian action, keeping up to date on the latest issues, trends and news demonstrates to potential employers that you have a vested interest in this area and are willing to educate yourself.

Experience and Education Requirements

The experience and education you need to work in refugee protection and inclusion will vary by position. For example, those in medicine or law will need the appropriate education, training and relevant degrees.

In general, many refugee support careers — especially in field offices — require a bachelor’s degree, often in international relations, political science, global studies, sociology, psychology, public health, public administration, human services or a related field. You may only need a high school diploma for certain positions.

An undergraduate degree in communications, environmental studies, social work, economics, human resources, engineering or administration can be beneficial if you want to specialize in a particular area. Senior-level, management and director roles typically require a graduate degree. Many organizations prefer to hire employees who have a certain amount of professional or volunteer experience in humanitarian, nonprofit or refugee work. Other preferred qualifications may include:

Fluency in another language
Proficiency in certain technical resources or video conferencing platforms
Strong public speaking skills
Leadership experience
A valid driver’s license and reliable method of transportation
Cross-cultural experience and/or training
Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Salary Information

Since careers working with immigrants and refugees span the spectrum from administrative to medical, salaries will greatly vary and depend on the position, organization and how much experience and education are required. Entry-level positions may start in the $30–$40K range, while senior-level and director roles have the potential to earn six figures. Here are some average salaries to keep in mind*:

Humanitarian Coordinator — $84,000
Public Health Nurse — $87,178
Fundraiser — $67,927
Refugee Case Worker — $47,429
Public Affairs Specialist — $61,843

*Note: Salary data is updated in real time and may differ from the numbers listed here.

20 Careers Working with Refugees

While this list is not exhaustive, here are some of the most common careers in refugee protection and inclusion.

1. Case Manager

Works with refugees in resettlement programs to help secure housing, employment and support services.

2. Field Worker/Coordinator/Specialist

Provides goods and services to refugees and helps coordinate disaster relief efforts.

3. Lawyer or Attorney

Represents refugees in legal proceedings such as immigration interviews and asylum interviews; provides legal assistance and advice for those who cannot afford it. May also work on refugee and humanitarian laws and policies.

4. Doctor or Nurse

Provides medical aid and relief, including addressing specific humanitarian challenges such as malnutrition, maternal health and communicable diseases. May also provide preventative care and health education and administer vaccines and healthcare screenings.

5. Public Health Specialist

Helps refugees access and secure medical care and health services; may facilitate educational programs on nutrition, disease prevention or other related health issues.

6. Interpreter/Translator

Helps bridge the gap between the response workers and the affected community.

7. Program Officer or Coordinator

Assists in the development and implementation of refugee assistance programs.

8. Communications or Public Affairs Specialist

Helps convey an organization’s message and mission through newsletters, email campaigns, interviews, social media campaigns and more.

9. Humanitarian Assistance Provider

Assesses the need for a humanitarian response and plans, coordinates and implements as needed.

10. Policy Analyst

Reviews, updates, or creates policies affecting refugees, including asylum protocols, resettlement programs, legal directives, and more.

11. Education Specialist

Provides education and instruction on specific topics in certain areas experiencing a crisis or emergency. May also educate the public on global humanitarian issues.

12. Fundraising Coordinator

Coordinates and manages fundraising campaigns. Identifies potential fundraising opportunities and plans and executes events or sponsorship opportunities.

13. Needs Assessment Specialist

Evaluates the challenges of a certain refugee population to determine which types of programs and assistance are most needed.

14. Program Research/Evaluation Expert

Evaluates and analyzes the effectiveness of refugee programs; collects and interprets program data.

15. Humanitarian Access Negotiations Specialist

Strategizes and plans for ways to deliver humanitarian assistance to refugees; engages with government officials, community groups and other organizations to ensure access to war zones or disaster areas.

16. Refugee Resettlement Worker

Assists refugees by coordinating housing, healthcare, support services, employment training and more. Assesses the goals and needs of refugees and determines how others can help them adjust to a new living situation.

17. Economic Empowerment/Livelihood Specialist

Evaluates a refugee’s skills and potential career prospects; provides job counseling and helps secure employment.

18. Food Program Distribution Specialist

Procures and distributes food and water to refugees; oversees the arrival and departure of food shipments.

19. Legal Aid/Asylum Specialist

Provides legal assistance and representation for refugees; handles the asylum application process.

20. Logistics Coordinator

Oversees and coordinates the procurement, delivery and distribution of supplies and aid to refugee populations.

Companies & Organizations Hiring Refugee Support Positions

You can find jobs working with refugees and immigrants at non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, research institutions and private businesses. The following list is just a sample of organizations hiring for these types of positions.

There are also job sites specifically dedicated to humanitarian-related work, such as ReliefWeb, Idealist and Devex, that list many roles that help refugees and immigrants.

While many of these organizations deal specifically with global challenges, others within the United States are also looking for skilled humanitarians to help assist the incoming refugee population. Each state within the U.S. has dedicated refugee coordinators and resettlement programs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker?

The difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker is that a refugee has been recognized as meeting the legal definition of a refugee, while an asylum seeker is someone whose claim for international protection is still being evaluated. Both may have fled war, violence or persecution, but only refugees have been formally granted refugee status under national or international procedures.

What’s the difference between a refugee and a migrant?

The difference between a refugee and a migrant is that a refugee is characterized as someone who is forced to leave a country because of war, violence or persecution and is protected under international law, while a migrant is a broader term for someone who moves from one place to another, often for work, education or family reasons. Migrants generally continue to receive the protection of their home country. The distinction matters legally because refugees cannot lawfully be returned to a country where they face persecution or other serious harm.

What are the differences between refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)?

The difference between refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) is whether they have crossed an international border. Both groups have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict, violence, disasters or other threats, but IDPs remain within their own country while refugees have crossed into another country and may qualify for international protection under refugee law.

What is refugee status determination?

Refugee status determination is the legal process used to decide whether a person meets the definition of a refugee under international law. It is carried out by a national government or, in some countries, by the UN Refugee Agency. The process typically includes an application, an interview and an assessment of whether the applicant has a well-founded fear of persecution on protected grounds. The outcome determines which legal protections and services the person can access.

What’s the difference between asylum and resettlement?

The difference between asylum and resettlement is where and how protection is granted. Asylum is requested by a person who has already arrived in a country and is seeking protection there. Resettlement is the organized transfer of a recognized refugee from the country where they first sought protection to a third country that has agreed to admit them. Resettlement is planned in advance and usually follows a referral by the UN Refugee Agency.

What is protection work in refugee aid?

Protection work in refugee aid focuses on safeguarding the safety, rights and dignity of displaced people rather than providing material assistance. It includes monitoring for abuse, supporting survivors of violence, tracing separated families, safeguarding children and advocating with authorities on legal status and access to services. Protection is one of the core functional areas in humanitarian organizations, and specialists in this field are consistently in demand.

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20 Careers in Refugee Protection & Inclusion

Key Takeaways