Morticians & Undertakers
Median wage · national
$55,010
Range: $42K – $72K
Employed
25K
Openings/yr
3K
Typically: associate's degree
BUSINESS
Social and Community Service Managers
Social and Community Service Managers earn $80,390 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $64,290 and $103,200. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Social and Community Service Managers
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a social and community service managers: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Business Administration and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $80,390
- Employed Nationally
- 209K
- Openings / Year
- 18,500
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Adoption Services Manager
Adult Daycare Coordinator
Borough Coordinator
Case Manager
Case Services Manager
How Much Do Social and Community Service Managers Make?
Most social and community service managers take home around $80,390 a year, above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $64,290 and $103,200, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$80,390
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$64K–$103K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$64,290
Entry-level
$80,390
Median
$103,200
Experienced
What Do Social and Community Service Managers Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Social Perceptiveness
Service Orientation
Active Listening
Monitoring
Coordination
Who Thrives Here
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Social and Community Service Managers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Social and Community Service Managers?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +7.2%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 18,500 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +7.2%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
18,500
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
209K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Social and Community Service Managers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $80,390 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 33,510 | $83,210 | +3.5% |
| 2 | New York | 19,340 | $95,980 | +19.4% |
| 3 | Texas | 13,460 | $76,520 | -4.8% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 10,220 | $75,280 | -6.4% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 8,800 | $81,380 | +1.2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 7 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Social Work program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Administration | 395,227 | $68,257 | 2,611 |
| 2 | Social Work | 59,381 | $51,790 | 850 |
| 3 | Business | 57,204 | $68,407 | 933 |
| 4 | Public Administration | 15,867 | $65,093 | 496 |
| 5 | Human | 11,596 | $48,597 | 480 |
| 6 | Behavioral Sciences | 4,777 | $48,673 | 132 |
| 7 | Community Organization and Advocacy | 2,557 | $51,936 | 152 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Social and Community Service Managers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Social and Community Service Managers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Social and Community Service Managers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Social and Community Service Managers Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Social and Community Service Managers a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $80,390 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +7.2% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $103,200 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Wide job market 209K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $80,390 median while building the experience employers require.
Social and Community Service Managers Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Social and Community Service Managers professionals earn?
Around $80,390 a year for the typical worker, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $64,290 and $103,200. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Social and Community Service Managers a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. Median pay of $80,390 with +7.2% projected growth through 2035 is a combination most fields cannot match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $64,290, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How long does it take to work as Social and Community Service Managers?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Business Administration are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $80,390 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Social and Community Service Managers?
Employment is projected to change by +7.2% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 18,500 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 209K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Social and Community Service Managers professionals need?
Mainly Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Active Listening, Monitoring, and Coordination. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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