How much does community and social-service worker make?
The exact figures below come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) for Social and Human Service Assistants (SOC 21-1093), the category this role is reported under. The spread is wide because most jobs are government or nonprofit, so pay is driven by state budgets and cost of living.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Typical context |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,200 | Entry-level; lower-wage states and small nonprofits |
| 25th | $38,150 | Early-career, smaller agencies |
| 50th (median) | $45,930 | BLS OEWS May 2025 national median |
| 75th | $54,350 | Experienced workers, higher-wage states |
| 90th | $63,290 | Supervisors, managers, and high-cost metros |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, national figures, via O*NET 21-1093.00. All percentile figures are exact BLS values.
How much do Community and Social-Service Workers make by setting type?
The ranges below are estimates grounded in the BLS distribution for this category and vary with location and employer.
| Setting | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Community-action agencies | $36,000-$50,000 | Federal and state anti-poverty programs; steady, mission-driven work |
| Youth and family centers | $36,000-$50,000 | Program delivery and outreach; nonprofit pay scales |
| Government social programs | $40,000-$54,000 | Benefits and eligibility roles; civil-service scales and PSLF |
| Faith-based and grassroots nonprofits | $34,000-$48,000 | Smaller budgets; PSLF-eligible if 501(c)(3) |
Community and Social-Service Worker salary by state
Geographic variation is among the widest factors in this field. Per BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates, the highest median wages cluster in the Northeast and on the West Coast, while the lowest are in the rural South and Mountain West.
Highest-paying states (median)
- District of Columbia $59,460
- Washington $54,770
- Oregon $51,230
- California $51,090
- Minnesota $49,940
- New Jersey $48,420
- Rhode Island $47,720
Lowest-paying states (median)
- Kentucky $37,440
- Arkansas $36,770
- Oklahoma $36,740
- Alabama $35,830
- Louisiana $35,780
- Mississippi $31,200
Find accredited programs in each state on our state-by-state BSW rankings.
Community and Social-Service Worker salary by experience
| Career stage | Typical tenure | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outreach / program worker | 0-2 years | $34,000-$44,000 | Entry delivery and outreach near the 10th-25th percentile |
| Program specialist | 2-5 years | $42,000-$54,000 | Owns a program area, around the BLS median |
| Program coordinator | 5-8 years | $50,000-$63,000 | Coordinates services and staff; a BSW supports the move up |
| Program manager | 8+ years | $58,000-$78,000 | Management roles are reported in a higher BLS category |
What affects Community and Social-Service Worker pay most?
Funding source
Government and well-funded grant programs pay more than small grassroots nonprofits.
A BSW
The macro-practice content in a BSW maps directly to this work and supports promotion into coordinator and manager roles.
Program area
Coordinators in housing, workforce, and benefits administration tend to earn more than general outreach roles.
Locality
Urban programs in high-cost states pay above rural ones.
PSLF
Most employers are nonprofit or government, opening loan-forgiveness eligibility.
See where bachelor-level licensure raises your pay classification on our credentials page.
How Community and Social-Service Worker salary compares to other BSW careers
| Career | BLS category (SOC) | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Medical or Hospital Social Worker | 21-1022 | $67,880 |
| Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Support Specialist | 21-1023 | $60,280 |
| Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| School Social Worker | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworker | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| Case Manager and Care Coordinator | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Community and Social-Service Worker ← you are here | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Aging, Disability, and Veterans' Services Worker | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Social and Human-Service Assistant | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Several roles share a BLS occupation, so their reported medians match.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025)
- O*NET OnLine 21-1093.00
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Community and Social Service
Last refreshed 2026-06-08. Exact wages reflect the BLS OEWS May 2025 release; setting and experience ranges are estimates grounded in that distribution.