Social and Community Service Manager: Career and Salary Overview
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Social and community service managers work for nonprofit and community organizations that provide services to the public. They connect with community members to understand their needs and develop new social services programs. These managers work closely with social workers and other staff members to implement programs and evaluate their effectiveness.
Social workers who move into management roles draw on their experience advocating for underrepresented groups, evaluating the impact of social welfare policies, and connecting individuals with support services. Depending on their job title, social work managers may need a social work degree and a social work license.
Community organizations rely on social work managers to provide services, including substance use and mental health treatment, to unhoused populations, vulnerable children, and older adults. Social workers can effect change in their communities by taking on management roles. Here’s how social workers can become social and community service managers.
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Education for Social and Community Service Managers
Becoming a social and community service manager typically requires a bachelor’s degree, though some roles require a master’s degree. Social workers interested in managerial roles typically hold a bachelor’s of social work (BSW) or a master’s in social work (MSW) .
These social work degrees emphasize social work practice, advocacy, and social justice. Social work majors also gain hands-on experience during a clinical practicum. Students interested in management careers benefit from coursework in program development, social work assessments, and program evaluation.
An MSW prepares graduates for licensure as a clinical social worker, which may be a requirement for some social work management jobs. For example, the director of a nonprofit mental health program or a manager at a substance use treatment clinic may need their MSW and clinical social work license.
Social work students should always choose an accredited program to earn their degree. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) evaluates social work programs and grants accreditation to programs that meet high professional standards.
Professional affiliations can help a social worker stay current. As the largest professional association for social workers, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) offers networking opportunities, scholarships, and career resources.
Social and Community Service Manager Licensing
Careers as a social or community service manager do not always require a license. However, social workers who move into managerial roles may need a license. That’s because social and community service managers typically need several years of experience before taking on supervisory responsibilities.
Licensure requirements vary by state. In every state, clinical social workers need an MSW and a license to practice. Most states also license master’s level social workers in non-clinical roles, and many license bachelor’s social workers as well.
Proper program accreditation is essential for a prospective social worker to receive their license. While the curriculum may draw from more than one discipline, it should develop the core competencies of advanced practice social work — and hold CSWE accreditation.
Social and Community Service Manager Salary and Job Outlook
In the community service field, managers typically earn above-average salaries. Social and community service managers report a median pay of $77,030, according to May 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That’s higher than the median salary for social workers, which reached $58,380 in May 2023.
Community service managers also benefit from strong demand, with 8% projected growth from 2023-2033. In particular, those who work with older adults and substance use disorders will see the greatest need for managers.
Earning potential and job outlook vary depending on several factors, including location, degree level, and experience. Licensed clinical social workers in management roles may earn higher salaries than BSW social workers, for example.
