How To Become A Service Coordinator/Case Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a service coordinator/case manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Sabrina Sullenberger Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a service coordinator/case manager. For example, did you know that they make an average of $19.12 an hour? That's $39,771 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 12% and produce 52,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What's a day at work look like for a service coordinator/case manager?

Sabrina Sullenberger Ph.D.

Professor, Belmont University

I think a "good job" out of college is going to be different for different people. But when I think about this in general, I think a good job (especially in social work) is one that allows you to do work that is meaningful, that allows you to use your skills and education, and that gives you a vision for how you might continue to grow as a person and professional. And, it is one that allows you to pay your bills and have some balance (fun, leisure) in your life.

ScoreService Coordinator/Case ManagerUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,771

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.9

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.74%

Asian 6.18%

Black or African American 11.08%

Hispanic or Latino 21.84%

Unknown 4.78%

White 54.37%

Gender

female 80.46%

male 19.54%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

8.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.2

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a service coordinator/case manager

Explore service coordinator/case manager education requirements

Most common service coordinator/case manager degrees

Bachelor's

67.9 %

Master's

16.8 %

Associate

10.5 %

Start to develop specific service coordinator/case manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Social Work	18.77%
Comprehensive Assessments	7.90%
Community Resources	6.89%
Service Coordination	6.29%
Crisis Intervention	6.10%

Complete relevant service coordinator/case manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New service coordinator/case managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a service coordinator/case manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real service coordinator/case manager resumes.

Research service coordinator/case manager duties and responsibilities

Manage timely development and submission of IEP service plans for consumers receiving waivers services from the state.
Provide clients support with basic ADL's (shopping, payee services, budgets, managing and attending appointments).
Educate individual and families about available Medicaid services while advocating for their rights.
Maintain a complex caseload of individuals with development and/or physical disabilities and request authorization for appropriate Medicaid waiver fund services.

Prepare your service coordinator/case manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your service coordinator/case manager resume.

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