The approximate calculation of refugees around the world is 37.6 million with more than half currently being displaced from just three countries — Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
A refugee is defined as a person who has been forced to leave his or her country due to war, violence or persecution, and an official department or organization must determine whether someone meets the criteria of refugee. A person who receives refugee status is protected under certain laws and conventions. But refugees are a minority of displaced people globally. Another 68 million are forcibly displaced within their countries (making them Internally Displaced Persons, or “IDPs”). According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than 120 million people have been displaced around the world, and between 2018 and 2023, approximately 385,000 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.
The stakes are high, and the need for refugee and displaced assistance is urgent. In the words of the UN: “We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record.”
If you are interested in humanitarian work, there are many available positions and career paths, depending on your interests and skills. Capable professionals and dedicated leaders are greatly needed in a variety of refugee aid roles to help tackle this increasingly challenging, complex problem.
Types of Refugee Aid Careers
While many on-site positions work directly with refugees, there are opportunities to work in other areas of aid that are equally as important.
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 refugee aid organizations 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 is another potential responsibility you may face.
Field placements — Refugee support typically falls 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 aid workers 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 (IDPs), 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
- Research — In these types of positions you may analyze or create policies, evaluate humanitarian aid programs or conduct field research within refugee communities.
- Logistics — Coordinating refugee aid 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 in Refugee Aid?
The type of skills you need will vary by career, but in general, the following are needed for most types of refugee aid positions:
- 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 in refugee aid 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 needs, 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 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 aid, 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 Needed
The experience and education you need to work in refugee aid will vary by position. For example, those in medicine or law will need the appropriate education, training and relevant degrees.
In general, many refugee aid 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 for Refugee Aid Careers
Since refugee aid careers 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 — $54,919
- Public Health Nurse — $70,351
- Fundraiser — $66,670
- Refugee Case Worker — $47,429
- Public Affairs Specialist — $59,258
*Note: Salary data is updated in real-time and may differ from the numbers listed here.
20 Refugee Aid Careers
While this list is not exhaustive, here are some of the most common careers in refugee aid.
| Position | Overview |
| Case Manager | Works with refugees in resettlement programs to help secure housing, employment and support services. |
| Field Worker/Coordinator/Specialist | Provides goods and services to refugees and helps coordinate disaster relief efforts. |
| 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. |
| Doctor or Nurse | Provides medical aid and relief; may also handle specific humanitarian challenges such as malnutrition, material issues and specific diseases. May also provide preventative care and health education and administer vaccines and health care screenings. |
| 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. |
| Interpreter/Translator | Helps bridge the gap between the disaster response workers and the affected community. |
| Program Officer or Coordinator | Assists in the development and implementation of refugee assistance programs. |
| Communications or Public Affairs Specialist | Helps convey an organization’s message and mission through newsletters, email campaigns, interviews, social media campaigns and more. |
| Humanitarian Aid Worker | Assesses the need for a humanitarian response and plans, coordinates, and implements as needed. |
| Policy Analyst | Reviews, updates or creates policies that affect refugees, including asylum protocols, resettlement programs, legal directives and more. |
| 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. |
| Fundraising Coordinator | Coordinates and manages fundraising campaigns. Identifies potential fundraising opportunities and plans and executes events or sponsorship opportunities. |
| Needs Assessment Specialist | Evaluates the needs of a certain refugee population to determine which types of programs and assistance are most needed. |
| Program Research/Evaluation Expert | Evaluates and analyzes the effectiveness of refugee programs; collects and intercepts program data. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Economic Empowerment/Livelihood Specialist | Evaluates a refugee’s skills and potential career prospects; provides job counseling and helps secure employment. |
| Food Program Distribution Specialist | Procures and distributes food and water to refugees; oversees the arrival and departure of food shipments. |
| Legal Aid/Asylum Specialist | Provides legal assistance and representation for refugees; handles the asylum application process. |
| Logistics Coordinator | Oversees and coordinates the procurement, delivery and distribution of supplies and aid to refugee populations. |
Companies & Organizations Hiring Refugee Aid Positions
You can find refugee aid roles 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 refugee aid-related roles.
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.
Advance Your Refugee Aid Career With a Master’s Degree in Humanitarian Action
If you’re considering a master’s degree program to advance your refugee aid career, download the free eBook — 6 Ways A Masters Degree Can Benefit Your Humanitarian and International Aid Career.
While evaluating master’s degree programs, take a closer look at the 100% online Master of Science in Humanitarian Action degree from the University of San Diego.
This program provides an innovative, multidisciplinary curriculum taught by experienced, knowledgeable faculty. Position yourself for leadership and success in the humanitarian field with a master’s degree you can earn in just 20 months. For more information, please visit the USD Master of Science in Humanitarian Action degree homepage.
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