Social and community service managers essential career information:
- 2011 median pay: $59,970
- 2011, number of jobs: 115,360
- Employment growth forecast, 2010-2020: 27 percent
- Entry-level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Social and community service managers; what they do:
Social service managers and community service managers put together and oversee programs that offer a variety of services to the public.
Social service managers and community service managers regularly interact and listen to the public, learning what programs and types of services are needed and desired. It is up to the social service managers and community service managers to then develop programs to meet those needs and hire and train staff members to run the program.
Social service managers and community service managers ensure their program receives funding, which may involve fundraising. Both a social service manager career and a community service manager career include finding ways of collecting data on their programs to analyze the effectiveness of it.
In large companies, social service managers and community service managers have more narrowed responsibilities and usually follow guidelines. They’re involved with programs designed by someone higher in the organization. In smaller companies, however, social service managers and community service managers often wear multiple hats and have a more public face through speaking engagements, fundraising, and meeting with potential donors.
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Social and community service manager job titles:
- Program Director
- Social Services Director
- Program Manager
- Vocational Rehabilitation Administrator
- Adoption Services Manager
- Children’s Service Supervisor
- Clinical Services Director
- Community Services Block Grant/Outreach Social Worker
- Director of Child Welfare Services
- Director of Social Services
Social and Community Service Manager Education, Certification and License Requirements
The minimum education to begin a social service manager career or a community service manager career is a Bachelor of Social Work, Urban Studies, Public Administration, or a degree in a related field. However, many employers prefer a social service manager or a community service manager with a Master of Social Work degree or a degree in a similar field such as public or business administration or public health.
Social and community service manager programs cover subjects such as:
- Statistics
- Program management
- Policy analysis
- Group work
- Psychology
- Ethics
- Social problems
- Case management
Social service managers and community service managers do not need specific certifications or licenses.
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Social and Community Service Managers Job Outlook
Forecast: 27 percent employment growth from 2010 to 2020 for social service managers and community service managers, faster than the average for all occupations.
The growing elderly population increases the demand for social services which increases the demand for social service managers and community service managers. Social services focused on the elderly may grow the fastest. An increase in social services for addiction services may see an increase, as more individuals go to treatment facilities rather than jail.
Budget cuts in state and local governments may negatively impact the growth in social and human services.
Social and Community Service Managers Salary
- 2011 median annual wage: $59,970
- 2011, workers at the 75th percentile annual wage: $77,650
- 2011, workers at the 25% percentile annual wage: $45,640
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Major Employers

- Individual and family services
- State and local government
- Religious, grant making, civic, professional and similar organizations
- Nursing and residential care facilities
- Community and vocational rehabilitation services
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