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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Social and Community Service Managerss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Social and Community Service Managerss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Richmond ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $106,346/year, better purchasing power than Salem's higher nominal pay of $110,210. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Salem$110,210
#2 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater$108,380
#3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$106,400

Best purchasing power

#1 Richmond$106,346
#2 Salem$106,329
#3 Yakima$105,191

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed social and community service managerss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Richmond
19% rent burden
$104,070
$106,346
#2
Salem
17% rent burden
$110,210
$106,329
#3
Yakima
16% rent burden
$100,510
$105,191
#4
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
22% rent burden
$108,380
$104,543
#5
Muskegon-Norton Shores
16% rent burden
$95,670
$103,405
#6
Battle Creek
15% rent burden
$92,650
$102,330
#7
Bismarck
15% rent burden
$91,970
$101,044
#8
Sioux Falls
15% rent burden
$91,120
$100,541
#9
Kingsport-Bristol
15% rent burden
$83,070
$96,090
#10
$106,400
$95,744
#11
Knoxville
20% rent burden
$88,240
$95,322
#12
Spokane-Spokane Valley
14% rent burden
$95,640
$95,306
#13
Mankato
16% rent burden
$86,630
$95,250
#14
Kalamazoo-Portage
15% rent burden
$90,220
$95,129
#15
Baton Rouge
17% rent burden
$85,880
$94,602
#16
Bellingham
22% rent burden
$97,380
$94,242
#17
$92,140
$94,078
#18
Anchorage
17% rent burden
$98,920
$93,834
#19
Trenton-Princeton
24% rent burden
$96,650
$93,671
#20
$89,840
$93,253
#21
New Orleans-Metairie
19% rent burden
$86,290
$93,186
#22
$101,240
$92,983
#23
Lynchburg
17% rent burden
$82,680
$92,525
#24
Memphis
18% rent burden
$84,930
$92,135
#25
Medford
20% rent burden
$93,220
$91,906

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Social and Community Service Managerss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $110,210 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $91,842 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A social and community service managers in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Social and Community Service Managerss?

Spokane-Spokane Valley has one of the lowest rent burdens for Social and Community Service Managerss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,131/month, with a median salary of $95,640.

Where do Social and Community Service Managerss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Salem pays the highest nominal median salary at $110,210/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Social and Community Service ManagerssView →How to become a social and community service managersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →