Social and Community Service Managers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Management · SOC 11-9151 · O*NET 11-9151.00
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.
Social and Community Service Managers fall under the Management category in the U.S. occupational classification. Social and Community Service Managers earn a median salary of $78,240 per year, ranking in the top 26% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +6.4% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do social and community service managers earn?
The median annual wage for social and community service managers is $78,240. That puts social and community service managers at #209 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $50,020 |
| 25th percentile | $62,420 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $78,240 |
| 75th percentile | $100,600 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,820 |
| Median hourly wage | $37.61/hr |
Is social and community service managers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for social and community service managers is +6.4%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 219K positions in 2024 to 233K in 2034, a net change of 14K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do social and community service managers do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working social and community service managers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
- 2.Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as budgets, personnel records, or training manuals.
- 3.Participate in the determination of organizational policies regarding such issues as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits.
- 4.Research and analyze member or community needs to determine program directions and goals.
- 5.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.
- 6.Establish and maintain relationships with other agencies and organizations in community to meet community needs and to ensure that services are not duplicated.
- 7.Recruit, interview, and hire or sign up volunteers and staff.
- 8.Act as consultants to agency staff and other community programs regarding the interpretation of program-related federal, state, and county regulations and policies.
Top skills for social and community service managers
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become social and community service manager?
The standard path into social and community service managers begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about social and community service managers
What is the median salary for social and community service managers?
The median annual salary for social and community service managers is $78,240 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is social and community service managers a growing career?
BLS projects +6.4% growth for social and community service managers from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become social and community service manager?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to social and community service managers?
Related occupations within the Management category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.