How much do Social and Community Service Managers make?
Social and Community Service Managers make a national median of $80,390, and that figure reflects an occupation with an unusually wide salary range. The 10th percentile reflects executive directors of small community nonprofits operating on tight budgets. The 90th percentile reflects senior directors at major health systems, large national nonprofits, and senior federal government administrators. Organization size is the primary driver, far more so than years of experience.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage | Typical context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | ~$47,000 | ~$22.60 | Small community nonprofits, rural agencies, entry-level management |
| 25th | ~$58,000 | ~$27.88 | Program managers at smaller organizations, early-career directors |
| 50th (median) | $80,390 | $37.61 | BLS OEWS May 2025 national median |
| 75th | ~$99,000 | ~$47.60 | Mid-sized nonprofits, government social services directors |
| 90th | ~$127,000 | ~$61.06 | Large nonprofit EDs, health system social work directors, senior government administrators |
Source: O*NET OnLine 11-9151.00, BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentile figures for 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th are approximate; median is exact. See bls.gov/oes for the full table.
How does Social and Community Service Manager salary vary by employer type?
Social and Community Service Manager salary varies by employer type more than anything else: organization size and sector explain more variance in this occupation than any other factor. A nonprofit executive director's compensation is tied directly to the organization's budget, board compensation philosophy, and the complexity of operations managed. Government social service managers are constrained by civil service classifications but benefit from pension and PSLF eligibility.
| Setting | Typical salary range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small community nonprofit (< $3M budget) | $55,000–$78,000 | Executive director or program director; budget constraints limit compensation significantly |
| Mid-sized nonprofit ($3M–$20M budget) | $72,000–$105,000 | Director-level roles; compensation increasingly benchmarked against market data |
| Large regional / national nonprofit (> $20M) | $95,000–$160,000+ | Senior VP, COO, or CEO of major human services organization |
| State / county government social services | $65,000–$105,000 | Civil service classification; pension and PSLF eligibility; step increases |
| Federal government (HHS, VA, DOJ programs) | $80,000–$130,000 | GS-13 to GS-15; federal benefits; highly competitive for senior roles |
| Health system / hospital social services administration | $90,000–$150,000+ | Director of Social Work at major health system; hybrid clinical-administrative role |
| Foundation / policy organization | $85,000–$130,000 | Program officer, policy director; advanced degree and sector expertise required |
Which states pay Social and Community Service Managers the most?
Which states pay Social and Community Service Managers the most is a bigger question than it sounds: geography compounds the organization-size premium. A large nonprofit in California or New York pays dramatically more than the same size organization in Mississippi or West Virginia. Per BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates, the highest-paying states are concentrated in the Northeast and Pacific regions, where nonprofit sector scale and government funding levels are both higher.
Highest-paying states
- California
- New York
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Maryland
- Washington
Below-average paying states
- West Virginia
- Mississippi
- South Dakota
- Arkansas
- North Dakota
- Montana
For exact state figures, see bls.gov/oes. Find MSW programs with macro and administration concentrations on our state rankings page.
How does Social and Community Service Manager salary grow with experience?
Social and Community Service Manager salary grows with experience as the role changes: career progression in social services management typically moves from direct practice through supervision to program management and eventually executive leadership. The MSW is standard for mid-to-senior roles; an MBA, MPA, or dual degree accelerates movement into senior executive roles at larger organizations.
| Career stage | Typical tenure | Salary range | Key driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program coordinator / assistant director | 0–3 years management | $52,000–$68,000 | First management role; often BSW or MSW with direct practice background |
| Program director | 3–6 years | $62,000–$82,000 | Single program or department oversight; budget and staff management |
| Associate / deputy director | 5–10 years | $75,000–$100,000 | Multi-program oversight; strategic planning; board interaction at larger orgs |
| Executive director (small-mid nonprofit) | 7–12 years | $80,000–$120,000 | Full organizational leadership; board accountability; fundraising responsibility |
| Executive director (large nonprofit / senior government) | 12+ years | $110,000–$200,000+ | Major regional or national organization; CEO-equivalent scope and compensation |
What affects Social Service Manager salary most?
- Organization budget size. The strongest predictor of executive compensation in the nonprofit sector. IRS Form 990 data consistently shows a direct relationship between organizational revenue and executive director compensation. Doubling from a $2M to $4M organization typically adds $20,000–$40,000 to the ED salary.
- Sector: government vs. nonprofit vs. health system. Health system social work directors typically earn 25-40% more than equivalent-scope nonprofit executives, reflecting hospital pay scales and billing capacity. Government senior managers benefit from civil service step increases and defined-benefit pensions.
- Geographic market. California, New York, and New Jersey pay far above the national median. Rural states pay below it even for organizations of equivalent size and scope.
- Advanced degree beyond MSW. An MSW/MBA, MSW/MPA, or standalone MBA or MPA signals business and administrative competency to boards and hiring committees. It is common among senior executives of organizations with budgets above $10M.
- Fundraising track record. Executive directors who can demonstrate a history of growing organizational revenue through grants, major donors, and government contracts command significant compensation premiums. Revenue-generating EDs are scarce.
- Board-approved compensation benchmarking. Nonprofit boards are legally required to set executive compensation through a reasonable process. Organizations that actively benchmark against IRS Form 990 comparables for similar-sized organizations in the same region tend to pay more competitively than those that don't.
See our credentials guide and the full Social and Community Service Manager career profile for more on the educational and licensure paths to this role.
How does Social and Community Service Manager salary compare to other social work roles?
Social and Community Service Manager salary sits inside a group of social work occupations that all require the same degree, so the comparison below is the fairest way to read it: same source, same release, same year.
| Occupation | SOC code | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Manager ← you are here | 11-9151 | $80,390 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | 21-1022 | $67,880 |
| Clinical Social Worker | 21-1023 | $60,280 |
| Child and Family Social Worker | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| School Social Worker | 21-1021* | $59,550 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. *School social workers are reported within the SOC 21-1021 category.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine 11-9151.00, Social and Community Service Managers (BLS OEWS May 2025 data)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Last refreshed 2026-08-27. Wage data reflects BLS OEWS May 2025 release. State groupings reflect BLS OES state-level estimates.
Which other social work salaries should you compare?
The other social work salaries worth comparing against this one are below, each drawn from the same BLS series and the same release, so the medians line up directly.