Social and Community Service Managers
Management
Most of the week is spent running a social service program: setting procedures, deciding who is eligible and what benefits look like, and keeping budgets, personnel files, and training manuals in order. The manager directs social workers, counselors, volunteers, or similar staff, reviews their work, and hires new people. Some days still include direct help—handling a referral, assessing what a client needs, or working through a complaint. The job also means staying in touch with other agencies so services cover community needs without being duplicated. It suits people who like coordinating staff and paperwork while still dealing with individual cases.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$80'390
Median Wage Market Position
$80'390
What you might do
- Direct the work of social workers and volunteers
- Set policies on who qualifies and what they receive
- Review staff work and how programs use resources
- Keep budgets, personnel records, and training manuals
- Partner with other agencies to meet community needs
- Interview and hire staff or sign up volunteers
Skills that matter
- Listening during client needs evaluations
- Tracking program quality and staff work
- Setting eligibility and benefit rules
- Handling referrals and client complaints
- Leading social workers and volunteers
- Linking agencies so services don't overlap
AI & the future of this role
Budget tracking and reporting may get easier with software, but program design, staff leadership, and work with vulnerable clients still depend on judgment and trust. Local funding and community needs tend to sustain demand even as admin load lightens.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details