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Career

Social and Community Service Managers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they 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. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $80,390 Median per year · $38.65/hr Most earn $53,150–$132,260

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Recruit, interview, and hire or sign up volunteers and staff.
  • Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
  • Plan and administer budgets for programs, equipment, and support services.
  • Recruit, interview, and hire or sign up volunteers and staff.
  • Implement and evaluate staff, volunteer, or community training programs.
  • 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.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
7% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 18,500 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals9.9%
  • Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities8.1%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals7.0%
  • Community food and housing, and emergency and other relief services6.0%
  • Social advocacy organizations4.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

This is not an entry-level job. Most people build 4 to 6 years of related work experience after a bachelor's degree before moving into it, so the full path often takes around 8 to 10 years from high school graduation.

  1. Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, public administration, or a related field

    4 years

    You learn how social service programs work, how communities are served, and the basics of research and writing, which builds the foundation for managing programs.

  2. Community Health Worker

    3-5 years

    You work directly with community members, learn how programs run day to day, and build the relationships and record-keeping skills that managers rely on.

  3. Social and Community Service Manager

    Reached after about 4-6 years of related experience

    You plan, direct, and coordinate a social service program or outreach organization, oversee its budget and policies, and supervise staff such as social workers or counselors.

Where it can lead

  1. Program Director

    3-5 years in a manager role of experience first

    You take responsibility for several programs or a larger part of an organization, with more authority over strategy, funding, and hiring.

  2. Director of Social Services

    5-10 years in management of experience first

    You oversee all social service operations for an agency or organization, setting long-term goals and representing it to funders, boards, and government partners.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take psychology, sociology, or government classesThese courses introduce you to how people, communities, and public services work, which is the core of this field.
  • Volunteer at a food bank, shelter, or community centerDirect service work shows you what social service programs actually do and whether you enjoy working with people in need.
  • Join a leadership club like student council or a service clubPlanning events and leading a group builds the organizing and teamwork skills managers use every day.
  • Get a part-time job that involves customer service or teamworkWorking with the public builds communication skills and shows you how to handle responsibility.
  • Strengthen your math and writing skillsBudgeting, reporting, and grant applications all depend on clear writing and comfort with numbers.

In college

  • Major in social work, human services, public administration, or nonprofit managementThese majors cover program design, community needs, and organizational policy, which directly prepare you for this career.
  • Take courses in accounting, budgeting, or statisticsManaging a program's budget and measuring its results are key parts of the job, so these skills will be used often.
  • Intern at a nonprofit, social service agency, or government human services officeAn internship gives you real experience in how programs are run and a chance to learn from managers.
  • Work a campus job in student affairs, residence life, or an advising officeThese roles build supervision, program coordination, and working with diverse groups of people.
  • Join a student organization that runs community service projectsLeading a service project lets you practice planning, recruiting volunteers, and managing a team toward a goal.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on experience early through volunteering, part-time jobs, or internships at a community organization, since managers are usually promoted from direct service roles.
  • Build skills in budgeting, grant writing, and data tracking, because this career involves running programs with limited funds and reporting results to others.
  • Learn to supervise and communicate well by leading a team project or club, since you will be directing staff in this job.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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