Social and Community Service Managers
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.
Social and Community Service Managers 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $78,240 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $46,230 and $127,210 and is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.45 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Critical Thinking, Coordination.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Psychology
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Education and Training
- Law and Government
- Personnel and Human Resources
A day in the life
Your morning begins with a staff meeting where you check in on caseloads, review program outcomes, and make sure your team has the resources they need to serve clients effectively. By mid-morning you are reviewing grant applications or drafting a report for a funder showing how your after-school program improved graduation rates. Afternoons could involve meeting with city officials about expanding a homeless outreach initiative, interviewing candidates for a new case manager position, or visiting a community center to see your programs in action. The work is demanding but deeply fulfilling because every decision you make directly improves someone's quality of life.
Frequently asked questions
What does Social and Community Service Managers do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Social and Community Service Managers?
Your morning begins with a staff meeting where you check in on caseloads, review program outcomes, and make sure your team has the resources they need to serve clients effectively. By mid-morning you are reviewing grant applications or drafting a report for a funder showing how your after-school program improved graduation rates.
How much does Social and Community Service Managers earn?
The median annual salary for Social and Community Service Managers in the US is $78,240. The middle 80% of workers earn between $46,230 and $127,210 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $58,070 and $101,070.
What is the job outlook for Social and Community Service Managers?
The role is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 219,800 workers.
How do I become social and community service managers?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Social and Community Service Managers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Service Orientation. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Social and Community Service Managers?
Our AI-durability model gives Social and Community Service Managers a score of 0.45 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Social and Community Service Managers has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.
Is Social and Community Service Managers right for you?
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