Fix referrals that keep stalling
Meet one staff member about referrals that keep stalling, then pick staff training or a new workflow.
Career profile
Social Services Manager
Social service managers oversee the staff and the money behind a social services program.
You help decide how a program runs, and what to change when it falls short for the people it was meant to serve.
A day in the life
Find out why turnout dropped
Put the program's numbers beside what staff report, then choose one change to try out.
Match costs to available funds
Before you commit any program resources, use a spreadsheet to set planned costs against the money on hand.
Coordinate referrals with another program
Talk with another program's manager about how referrals pass between you, so clients get needed help without overlap.
Quick facts
Bachelor’s + related experience
United States
$80,390/year
United States · May 2025
7% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Bachelor’s + related experienceSome positions require a master’s degree.
Pay
$80,390/yearNational median; equivalent to $38.65/hour.
Outlook
7% projected growthAbout 18,500 openings annually, including replacements.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like helping coworkers solve problems.
- You want to know whether a plan actually worked.
- You can explain a decision to people who disagree.
Things to weigh
- Some weeks exceed 40 hours as staffing issues and deadlines compete.
- You are accountable for other people’s work and must address complaints and poor performance.
Where AI may help
Client databases and reporting software organize records; spreadsheets help you check spending and results.
What people still lead
You lead staff and decide how to respond when a program falls short.
What we can’t predict yet
How much software will interpret program results, beyond organizing them, remains an open question.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use these national figures to compare opportunities, not to predict your first offer.
Median and spread
The median was $80,390 a year, or $38.65 an hour. The 10th and 90th percentiles were $53,150 and $132,260 annually. Those are positions in the pay distribution, not beginner and senior salaries.
Workplace matters
Annual medians were $102,630 in local government excluding education and hospitals, $76,760 in individual and family services, and $73,950 in nursing and residential care facilities.
Openings include replacements
The 18,500 projected yearly openings include people changing occupations or leaving work, alongside employment growth.
Getting started
Bachelor’s degree and service experience
- What the route involves
- Study social work or a related public policy or social services field, then gain related work experience.
- What it can lead to
- This meets the typical preparation for management roles.
Graduate education for selected roles
- What the route involves
- Combine related experience with a master’s degree when the position requires one.
- What it can lead to
- You can pursue positions whose education requirement goes beyond a bachelor’s.
Management usually comes after related service work.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn your program’s rules, records, and staff routines.
Build capability
Get better at evaluating results and coaching staff through changes.
Lead more
Work toward directing an organization, with broader budget and staffing responsibility.
Where you can work
Small community organization
You may move between program decisions, fundraising, and community meetings in the same role.
- Office
Large service agency
You may run one program, reporting to senior leaders and putting their plans into practice.
- Office
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Sketch a fictional after-school support program with 12 volunteer hours available each week. Divide the hours between activities, preparation, and checking results. Then remove three hours and explain what you would change. Notice whether you enjoy making—and explaining—those tradeoffs.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Social and Community Service Managers. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine. 11-9151.00 — Social and Community Service Managers. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Wages: 11-9151.00 — Social and Community Service Managers. Accessed 2026-10-03.