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Sector

Careers in Civic & Community Organizations

Civic and community organizations serve local communities through various programs and services. Moderate credentials with fully on-site work in mission-driven environments.

347K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$44K
Median salary
Across all roles
Civic & Community Organizations jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Civic & Community Organizations employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ7K
2.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA5K
3.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN4K
4.Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV3K
5.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX3K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.Lawrence, KS131.9
2.Ithaca, NY113.7
3.Amherst Town-Northampton, MA111
4.Ann Arbor, MI110.4
5.Pittsfield, MA108.8
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Civic & Community Organizations

Civic and community organizations strengthen local communities โ€” there's satisfaction in local impact, democratic participation, and work that brings neighbors together. Many find meaning in grassroots service.

The challenge can come from limited resources and volunteer coordination. Community organizations often run on minimal budgets. Volunteer management is demanding. Impact is hard to measure. Burnout is common in under-resourced roles.

The field varies by focus and structure. Neighborhood associations differ from civic leagues, community foundations, or local advocacy groups. Professional staff differ from volunteer-driven organizations.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: local impact, community relationships, democratic participation, and meaningful civic work. If you're committed to community building, want local nonprofit careers, and can work with limited resources, civic organizations offer fulfilling opportunities.

How people break in

Volunteer experience is the typical entry point. Formal nonprofit management education helps for leadership roles. Grant writing and fundraising skills highly valued. Personal connection to the cause often matters.

Work environment tends toward
Mission-drivenCommunity engagementResource-constrainedMultiple hatsGrant-dependent
Salary vs. national average
-38%
$44K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$15K$36K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all civic & community organizations roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$88K
2. Boulder$74K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$72K
4. Trenton-Princeton$68K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$67K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$68K in mid-market metros to ~$99K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $99K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $85K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $78K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $88K adj.
Boulder ยท $74K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $72K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 24.1M
Los Angeles ยท 16M
Chicago ยท 11.6M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Civic & Community Organizations.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Consumer Services data
26%
Higher than average turnover. This could indicate challenging conditions, seasonal work, or abundant external opportunities.
โ†‘ 4%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
98%
Small
<50
2%
Mid
50โ€“249
0%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Mostly on-site
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Consumer Services data
~6%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 6%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Civic & Community Organizations

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Personal Care ยท Salons, barbershops, and independent practice. Customer relationships, tips, booth rental or commission models. Entrepreneurial path.
11%
$41K median
Explore โ†’
Business Operations
9%
$54K median
Explore โ†’
Healthcare
8%
$39K median
Explore โ†’
Social Services
8%
$45K median
Explore โ†’
Education
7%
$41K median
Explore โ†’
Admin & Office
7%
$52K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Civic & Community Organizations. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Civic & Community Organizations

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.