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Social services director: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$80,390median pay per year, or $38.65 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $53,150lowest 10% earn less
  2. $64,29025th percentile
  3. $80,390median
  4. $103,20075th percentile
  5. $132,260top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Social and community service managers, the BLS category that covers a social services director, had a median wage of $80,390 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 7.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+7.2%[2]
Openings per year
18,500[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do social services directors make?

The median wage for social and community service managers was $80,390 a year, or $38.65 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of the workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5]. The average wage was $88,880 a year, or $42.73 an hour[8].

Here is how the range looks across the annual percentiles[4]:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][9] $53,150 $25.56
25th[4][9] $64,290 $30.91
75th[4][9] $103,200 $49.61
90th[4][9] $132,260 $63.59

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $53,150[4][10]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary, full time or part time[11]. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median wage at $106,700, followed by Washington at $103,000, Alaska at $98,370, Colorado at $97,440 and New York at $95,980[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the list started with Salem, OR at $110,210, then Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA at $108,380 and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $106,400[13].

The most jobs were in California (33,510), New York (19,340), Texas (13,460), Pennsylvania (10,220) and Massachusetts (8,800)[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area had the most jobs of any metro, at 16,090[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$106,700640
Washington$103,0003,650
Alaska$98,370830
Colorado$97,4402,800
New York$95,98019,340
New Jersey$95,2905,530
Virginia$94,9703,300
Tennessee$88,2402,770
Maryland$87,4504,300
Oregon$87,0103,390
South Dakota$86,870450
North Dakota$86,630510
Michigan$85,5006,320
Minnesota$84,2205,430
California$83,21033,510
Utah$83,2002,140
New Hampshire$82,2901,180
Wisconsin$82,1303,580
Louisiana$82,0902,680
Massachusetts$81,3808,800
New Mexico$81,2901,150
Vermont$80,7601,200
North Carolina$79,5904,970
Kansas$79,2601,570
Idaho$79,120820
Illinois$78,3807,520
Rhode Island$77,5701,370
Arizona$77,5503,010
Kentucky$76,9602,280
Texas$76,52013,460
Hawaii$76,370980
Maine$76,1601,620
Florida$76,0508,600
Delaware$75,950930
Connecticut$75,5204,350
Pennsylvania$75,28010,220
Indiana$73,9402,950
Ohio$73,890n/a
Nebraska$73,7901,320
Oklahoma$73,7201,640
Montana$73,640820
South Carolina$73,4101,990
Georgia$73,2904,460
Alabama$72,3102,350
Missouri$71,9703,060
Mississippi$67,3301,120
Wyoming$66,330350
Iowa$65,9402,790
Nevada$65,5701,200
West Virginia$62,060820
Arkansas$56,1002,850

How to become a social services director

The typical path lists no on-the-job training[7]. In an ONET survey of 27 workers, 50% said a bachelor's degree is required and 24% said a master's degree[19]. This is a small survey. ONET places the job in Job Zone Four, which means considerable preparation is needed[20].

BLS lists analytical, communication, managerial, problem-solving and time-management skills as important[21][22][23][24][25].

What social services directors do

O*NET describes the job as planning, directing or coordinating a social service program or community outreach organization[26]. Common tasks include[27]:

Sample job titles include Community Services Director, Child Welfare Services Director and Clinical Services Director[28].

Where they work

These managers are employed by nonprofits, for-profit social service companies and government agencies[29]. Settings include offices, clinics, hospitals and shelters[29]. Individual and family services was the largest employer group, at 26%[30]. About 4.8% were self-employed in 2025[31].

BLS says most of these managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to rise 7.2% between 2025 and 2035, from about 231,000 jobs to 247,700[2]. For all occupations the projected rate is 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 18,500 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch to other occupations, as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.7% of workers leave the labor force and 4.3% move to a different occupation[33].

BLS OEWS counted about 209,330 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[34]. The projections count is higher and includes the self-employed[2].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, with a wide range from $53,150 to $132,260 at the 10th and 90th percentiles[1][4][5]. Entry usually takes a bachelor's degree and some related experience, and some positions want a master's[7][18]. Projected growth is faster than for all occupations[2][3]. The facts here do not cover school costs or licenses, so check those separately.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a social services director make?
The median wage for social and community service managers was $80,390 a year, or $38.65 an hour, in May 2025[1].
What degree do you need to be a social services director?
The typical entry level is a bachelor's degree, with related work experience[7]. Some positions also want a master's degree[18].
Is social services director a growing job?
BLS projects 7.2% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
What is the highest paying state for social and community service managers?
The District of Columbia had the highest median wage at $106,700, and Washington was next at $103,000[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Social and Community Service Managers in the US was $80,390 per year and $38.65 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Social and Community Service Managers is projected to grow 7.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 231,000 to 247,700 jobs (a change of +16,600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Social and Community Service Managers: 10th percentile $53,150, 25th percentile $64,290, 75th percentile $103,200, 90th percentile $132,260. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 18,500 openings for Social and Community Service Managers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Social and Community Service Managers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Social and Community Service Managers was $88,880 per year and $42.73 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Social and Community Service Managers: 10th percentile $25.56, 25th percentile $30.91, 75th percentile $49.61, 90th percentile $63.59. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Social and Community Service Managers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Social and Community Service Managers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Salem, OR $110,210; Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $108,380; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $106,400; Richmond, VA $104,070; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $101,310; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $101,240; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $100,570; Yakima, WA $100,510. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Social and Community Service Managers jobs: California 33,510; New York 19,340; Texas 13,460; Pennsylvania 10,220; Massachusetts 8,800. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Social and Community Service Managers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 16,090 (median $100,570); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 12,400 (median $87,100); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 5,730 (median $85,430); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 5,390 (median $79,150); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5,320 (median $80,810); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 5,080 (median $93,410). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET 11-9151.00 survey of workers (27 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 50%, Master's Degree 24%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 8%, Post-Master's Certificate 8%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 11-9151.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET description of Social and Community Service Managers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Social and Community Service Managers. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 11-9151.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Adoption Services Manager, Child Welfare Services Director, Children's Service Supervisor, Clinical Services Director, Community Services Director, Psychiatric Social Worker Supervisor, Social Services Director, Transitional Care Director. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of social and community service managers in 2025: Individual and family services 26%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: 4.8% of Social and Community Service Managers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Social and Community Service Managers: 2.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 209,330 people were employed as Social and Community Service Managers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.