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Director of social services salary
Average director of social services salary
$56,932
Average Salary Insights
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Director of Social Services is approximately $56,932 annually. Salaries vary significantly based on location, years of experience, and the type of organization. For instance, directors working in metropolitan areas often earn more due to the higher cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with extensive experience can earn significantly more. For example, directors with over ten years of experience may see salaries exceeding $70,000. This reflects the increasing responsibilities and expertise required at higher levels.
Top-Paying States
Some of the highest-paying states for this role include California, New York, and Texas, where the demand for social service professionals remains strong. Consideration of the state’s economic conditions and funding for social services can impact salary expectations.
Opportunities for Growth
Career advancement opportunities abound in this field, from administrative roles to directorships in larger organizations. Networking within professional associations can enhance job prospects and salary potential.
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Where can a Director Of Social Services earn more?
Director of social services salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level director of social services | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| Mid-level director of social services | $53,500 | $25.70 |
| Senior-level director of social services | $64,200 | $30.88 |
Director of social services salary estimates from across the web
Average director of social services salary by state
The average director of social services salary in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average director of social services salary states are Hawaii, Mississippi, and North Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of social services
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $72,183 | $34.70 |
| 2 | New York | $69,880 | $33.60 |
| 3 | Oregon | $67,038 | $32.23 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $62,027 | $29.82 |
| 5 | Maine | $60,914 | $29.29 |
| 6 | Utah | $62,055 | $29.83 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $63,888 | $30.72 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $71,001 | $34.14 |
| 9 | Washington | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| 10 | Illinois | $62,126 | $29.87 |
| 11 | Ohio | $62,685 | $30.14 |
| 12 | Michigan | $58,663 | $28.20 |
| 13 | Virginia | $66,848 | $32.14 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $61,127 | $29.39 |
| 15 | Georgia | $58,627 | $28.19 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $55,173 | $26.53 |
| 17 | Nevada | $55,252 | $26.56 |
| 18 | Vermont | $56,001 | $26.92 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $57,274 | $27.54 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $60,933 | $29.29 |
| 21 | Arizona | $56,661 | $27.24 |
| 22 | California | $59,117 | $28.42 |
| 23 | Maryland | $59,546 | $28.63 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $51,589 | $24.80 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $55,027 | $26.46 |
| 26 | Idaho | $52,557 | $25.27 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $49,985 | $24.03 |
| 28 | Indiana | $53,174 | $25.56 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $54,168 | $26.04 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $49,044 | $23.58 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $53,346 | $25.65 |
| 32 | Montana | $51,209 | $24.62 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $53,809 | $25.87 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $52,962 | $25.46 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $50,478 | $24.27 |
| 36 | Colorado | $53,424 | $25.68 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $48,299 | $23.22 |
| 38 | Delaware | $52,788 | $25.38 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $47,697 | $22.93 |
| 40 | Florida | $52,748 | $25.36 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $47,544 | $22.86 |
| 42 | Alaska | $50,886 | $24.46 |
| 43 | Texas | $51,764 | $24.89 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $49,913 | $24.00 |
| 45 | Alabama | $46,906 | $22.55 |
| 46 | Iowa | $46,008 | $22.12 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $49,168 | $23.64 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $46,736 | $22.47 |
| 49 | Kansas | $49,621 | $23.86 |
| 50 | Missouri | $49,173 | $23.64 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $47,057 | $22.62 |
Highest paying cities for directors of social services
The highest-paying cities for directors of social services are Malden, MA, New York, NY, and Richmond, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malden, MA | $72,116 | $34.67 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $70,066 | $33.69 |
| 3 | Richmond, VA | $66,269 | $31.86 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $63,111 | $30.34 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $62,173 | $29.89 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $61,970 | $29.79 |
| 7 | Auburn, WA | $60,997 | $29.33 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $60,919 | $29.29 |
| 9 | Dayton, OH | $60,852 | $29.26 |
| 10 | Macon, GA | $58,731 | $28.24 |
| 11 | Rochester, MN | $54,912 | $26.40 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $54,706 | $26.30 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $53,610 | $25.77 |
| 14 | Richmond, IN | $53,290 | $25.62 |
| 15 | Merritt Island, FL | $52,470 | $25.23 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $51,775 | $24.89 |
| 17 | Albuquerque, NM | $50,594 | $24.32 |
Director of social services salary details
A director of social services's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of social services's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| Average | $56,932 | $4,744 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
Highest paying director of social services jobs
The highest paying types of directors of social services are director of case management, communications lead, and director of health services.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communications Lead | $96,988 | $8,082 | $46.63 | 20,413 |
| Youth Coordinator | $37,761 | $3,147 | $18.15 | 23,062 |
| Youth Leader | $29,481 | $2,457 | $14.17 | 31,851 |
| House Manager | $37,235 | $3,103 | $17.90 | 28,706 |
| Corps Member | $30,813 | $2,568 | $14.81 | 4,837 |
| Home Manager | $75,914 | $6,326 | $36.50 | 49,494 |
Top companies hiring directors of social services now:
Which companies pay directors of social services the most?
Director of social services salaries at Icma-rc and Senior Living Properties are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of social services salary at companies like CarDon & Associates and Care Initiatives are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icma-rc | $96,120 | $46.21 |
| 2 | Senior Living Properties | $76,891 | $36.97 |
| 3 | CarDon & Associates | $73,678 | $35.42 |
| 4 | Care Initiatives | $73,242 | $35.21 |
| 5 | Mission Health Services | $71,903 | $34.57 |
| 6 | Meadowview Healthcare & Rehab | $70,304 | $33.80 |
| 7 | Legacy Health | $70,266 | $33.78 |
| 8 | BridgePoint Healthcare | $68,711 | $33.03 |
| 9 | Three Rivers Health | $68,203 | $32.79 |
| 10 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $68,105 | $32.74 |
| 11 | BronxWorks | $67,094 | $32.26 |
| 12 | Careerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company | $66,530 | $31.99 |
| 13 | American Senior Benefits | $65,386 | $31.44 |
| 14 | North Shore Healthcare | $64,932 | $31.22 |
| 15 | Avalon Health Care Group | $64,792 | $31.15 |
| 16 | Benedictine Health System | $64,686 | $31.10 |
| 17 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $64,455 | $30.99 |
| 18 | Kaiser Permanente | $64,161 | $30.85 |
| 19 | Ethica Health & Retirement Communities | $63,937 | $30.74 |
| 20 | Ciena Healthcare | $63,536 | $30.55 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director of social services salary trends
The average director of social services salary has risen by $8,949 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of social services earned $47,983 annually, but today, they earn $56,932 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for directors of social services over the last decade.
Compare director of social services salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of social services salary over time
Compare director of social services salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of social services salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $56,900 | $27.37 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $54,900 | $26.41 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $53,400 | $25.69 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $52,400 | $25.21 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | $52,900 | $25.44 | +1.8% |
Recently added director of social services salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis Healthcare LLC | Social Services Director | Rose Valley, PA | 06/28/2025 | $56,349 |
| Vivent Health | Director of Social Services | Austin, TX | 06/28/2025 | $85,000 |
| Veritas Skilled Nursing Management | Director of Social Services | Westminster, CO | 06/28/2025 | $75,000 |
| Genesis Healthcare LLC | Social Services Director | Bluefield, VA | 06/27/2025 | $68,702 |
| Related Companies | Director of Social Services | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $100,000 |
| Avalon Health Care Group | Social Services Director | Pasco, WA | 06/26/2025 | $58,436 |
| Eliot Community Human Services | Clinical Director-Social Services | Lynn, MA | 06/25/2025 | $65,000 |
| Prime Healthcare Services | Director of Social Services | Joliet, IL | 06/24/2025 | $66,000 |
| Avamere | Social Services Director (SNF EXP Required)-Avamere Issaquah | Issaquah, WA | 06/22/2025 | $73,045 |
| Carespring | Social Services Designee | Dayton, OH | 06/21/2025 | $32,349 |
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