Plan and direct social service programs, manage staff and budgets, and measure whether services reach people.
You may also see this posted as: Child Welfare Services Director, Social Services Director, Transitional Care Director, Vocational Rehabilitation Administrator, Adoption Services Manager, Children's Service Supervisor.
Nonprofits and government agencies
Weekday hours, some evening events
Enterprising
leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
O*NET job zone 4 of 5
High preparation—usually a four-year degree plus experience—is common.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 5.6% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Bachelor's degree
Training path: Bachelor's degree.
Related work experience: Less than 5 years.
On-the-job training: None.
No license required to start in most places.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
Runs the programs behind nonprofits and social agencies — meaningful work, modest pay, and steady demand.
Run the Reality Check — build the life you want and see the salary it takes, then compare it to this one.
Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
Free resume templates, interview practice, and getting-hired guides in the Careers kit.
Standard Occupational Classification 11-9151. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.