Social and Community Service Managers: Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.
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What Tasks Do Social and Community Service Managers Perform?
The core tasks performed by social and community service managers span:
- Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management.
- Direct activities of professional and technical staff members and volunteers.
- Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
- Participate in the determination of organizational policies regarding such issues as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits.
- Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as budgets, personnel records, or training manuals.
- Provide direct service and support to individuals or clients, such as handling a referral for child advocacy issues, conducting a needs evaluation, or resolving complaints.
- Establish and maintain relationships with other agencies and organizations in community to meet community needs and to ensure that services are not duplicated.
- Recruit, interview, and hire or sign up volunteers and staff.
What Social and Community Service Managers Need to Know
Top social and community service managers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adoption Services Manager
- Adult Daycare Coordinator
- Borough Coordinator
- Case Manager
- Case Services Manager
- Casework Department Director
- Casework Director
- Casework Services Director
Job Outlook
There are roughly 160,615 social and community service managers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +13.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Social and Community Service Managers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $156,089 |
| Hourly median | $75.04 |
| 10th percentile | $102,084 |
| 25th percentile | $129,086 |
| 75th percentile | $183,091 |
| 90th percentile | $210,094 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,700 |
| Washington | $98,710 |
| Colorado | $96,480 |
| Virginia | $93,150 |
| New York | $93,140 |
| New Jersey | $92,840 |
| Alaska | $87,140 |
| Tennessee | $85,940 |
| South Dakota | $84,210 |
| North Dakota | $83,410 |
| Maryland | $83,130 |
| Minnesota | $82,990 |
| Rhode Island | $82,310 |
| Michigan | $82,250 |
| Oregon | $82,130 |
| California | $80,160 |
| New Hampshire | $79,980 |
| Wisconsin | $79,700 |
| Massachusetts | $79,050 |
| Louisiana | $78,950 |
| Idaho | $78,000 |
| Utah | $77,600 |
| North Carolina | $77,320 |
| Vermont | $77,260 |
| New Mexico | $77,160 |
| Illinois | $76,110 |
| Arizona | $75,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,290 |
| Hawaii | $74,070 |
| Kentucky | $73,990 |
| Connecticut | $73,800 |
| Delaware | $73,710 |
| Ohio | $73,520 |
| Kansas | $73,470 |
| South Carolina | $72,990 |
| Maine | $72,800 |
| Virgin Islands | $72,130 |
| Georgia | $71,550 |
| Montana | $70,830 |
| Florida | $69,860 |
| Texas | $69,700 |
| Nebraska | $68,940 |
| Mississippi | $67,080 |
| Alabama | $65,160 |
| Missouri | $65,060 |
| Oklahoma | $65,010 |
| Indiana | $64,970 |
| Wyoming | $64,360 |
| Iowa | $62,920 |
| West Virginia | $62,460 |
| Nevada | $60,430 |
| Puerto Rico | $59,090 |
| Arkansas | $53,360 |
Where Social and Community Service Managers Earn the Most
Earnings for social and community service managers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $87,277 | 19.2% | 1.28 |
| Rocky Mountains | $83,740 | 3.6% | 0.90 |
| Far Western US | $81,837 | 22.1% | 1.42 |
| New England | $77,391 | 9.0% | 1.89 |
| Great Lakes | $76,420 | 12.2% | 0.87 |
| Southeast | $75,363 | 16.7% | 0.70 |
| Plains States | $73,422 | 7.7% | 1.16 |
| Southwest | $70,701 | 9.1% | 0.72 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | OR | $107,450 | 460 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $106,100 | 210 |
| Richmond, VA | VA | $104,410 | 750 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $102,880 | 130 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $102,250 | 1,940 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $102,230 | 360 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $101,210 | 1,370 |
| Walla Walla, WA | WA | $99,870 | 30 |
Which Industries Hire Social and Community Service Managers
Most social and community service managers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 122,240 | $74,980 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 19,170 | $77,280 |
| Educational Services | 6,430 | $88,040 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 5,850 | $86,420 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,360 | $101,850 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,000 | $81,070 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 960 | $67,440 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 600 | $66,360 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of social and community service managers reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
How to Become Social and Community Service Managers
Most social and community service managers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Human Resources Managers (Primary-Long)
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Medical and Health Services Managers (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Primary-Long)
- Mental Health Counselors (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring social and community service managers often complete programs in:
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
7 programs across 4 majors
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
3 programs across 2 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
2 programs across 2 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-9151.00 (Social and Community Service Managers).
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