What is the best state to be a social and community service managers?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, South Dakota is the best state for a social and community service managers: a BLS median of $86,870 is worth $98,063 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 88.6), an index of 123.3 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a social and community service managers at $106,700, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #6 of 51 on real pay (index 115.0). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

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Best States to Be a Social and Community Service Managers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a social and community service managers salary goes furthest in South Dakota — a $86,870 BLS median worth $98,063 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 123.3).

Which US states are best for a social and community service managers after cost of living and tax?

For a social and community service managers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks South Dakota #1: a $86,870 BLS median becomes $98,063 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 123.3). Arkansas ranks last ($62,253, index 78.3). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

South Dakota ranks #1 of 51 states for a social and community service managers. Index 100 = the average state; 123.3 means pay goes 23.3% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

123.3

Social and Community Service Managers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	South Dakota	$86,870	—	88.6	$98,063	123.3
2	North Dakota	$86,630	$452	89.0	$96,874	121.8
3	Washington	$103,000	—	107.0	$96,250	121.0
4	Alaska	$98,370	—	102.4	$96,103	120.8
5	Tennessee	$88,240	—	91.9	$96,049	120.7
6	District of Columbia	$106,700	$6,195	109.9	$91,451	115.0
7	Colorado	$97,440	$3,627	103.1	$91,034	114.4
8	Louisiana	$82,090	$2,088	88.2	$90,698	114.0
9	Virginia	$94,970	$4,661	101.1	$89,323	112.3
10	Michigan	$85,500	$3,387	96.2	$85,341	107.3
11	New Mexico	$81,290	$2,707	92.2	$85,220	107.1
12	New York	$95,980	$4,711	107.9	$84,571	106.3
13	New Jersey	$95,290	$3,880	108.8	$84,013	105.6
14	Kansas	$79,260	$3,623	90.1	$83,978	105.6
15	Wisconsin	$82,130	$3,201	94.1	$83,883	105.5
16	Kentucky	$76,960	$2,948	90.2	$82,091	103.2
17	North Carolina	$79,590	$2,841	94.3	$81,366	102.3
18	Minnesota	$84,220	$4,238	98.6	$81,100	102.0
19	Oklahoma	$73,720	$2,964	87.8	$80,548	101.3
20	Utah	$83,200	$3,786	98.9	$80,327	101.0
21	Maryland	$87,450	$3,821	105.0	$79,678	100.2
22	Vermont	$80,760	$2,948	98.0	$79,434	99.9
23	Idaho	$79,120	$3,386	95.5	$79,308	99.7
24	New Hampshire	$82,290	—	104.2	$79,000	99.3
25	Nebraska	$73,790	$2,741	90.1	$78,853	99.1
26	Texas	$76,520	—	97.1	$78,840	99.1
27	Ohio	$73,890	$1,250	92.8	$78,298	98.4
28	Alabama	$72,310	$3,351	88.8	$77,637	97.6
29	Oregon	$87,010	$6,809	103.4	$77,593	97.5
30	Indiana	$73,940	$2,188	93.3	$76,880	96.6
31	Missouri	$71,970	$2,502	90.8	$76,493	96.2
32	Arizona	$77,550	$1,464	100.7	$75,575	95.0
33	South Carolina	$73,410	$2,944	93.7	$75,164	94.5
34	Mississippi	$67,330	$2,157	87.0	$74,952	94.2
35	Maine	$76,160	$3,526	97.0	$74,842	94.1
36	Pennsylvania	$75,280	$2,311	97.6	$74,785	94.0
37	Illinois	$78,380	$3,739	100.0	$74,673	93.9
38	Montana	$73,640	$3,207	94.6	$74,419	93.6
39	Rhode Island	$77,570	$2,309	102.3	$73,583	92.5
40	Florida	$76,050	—	103.4	$73,539	92.4
41	Massachusetts	$81,380	$3,849	105.8	$73,311	92.2
42	Georgia	$73,290	$3,304	96.3	$72,681	91.4
43	Delaware	$75,950	$3,672	99.8	$72,417	91.0
44	Iowa	$65,940	$2,466	87.8	$72,325	90.9
45	California	$83,210	$3,617	110.7	$71,887	90.4
46	Wyoming	$66,330	—	92.7	$71,560	90.0
47	Connecticut	$75,520	$2,579	103.6	$70,400	88.5
48	West Virginia	$62,060	$2,056	89.5	$67,045	84.3
49	Nevada	$65,570	—	100.0	$65,584	82.4
50	Hawaii	$76,370	$4,274	110.0	$65,571	82.4
51	Arkansas	$56,100	$1,979	86.9	$62,253	78.3

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In South Dakota, a $86,870 salary is worth about $98,063 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $86,870 · BEA cost of living 88.6 (US = 100).

That makes South Dakota the state where this salary goes furthest.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$98,063	88.6
2	Arkansas	$96,026	86.9
3	Louisiana	$95,530	88.2
4	Mississippi	$95,509	87.0
5	Iowa	$95,222	87.8
6	North Dakota	$95,210	89.0
7	Tennessee	$94,558	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$94,195	87.8
9	Wyoming	$93,720	92.7
10	Alabama	$92,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$92,498	90.2
12	West Virginia	$92,386	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Social and Community Service Managers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a social and community service managers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, South Dakota is the best state for a social and community service managers: a BLS median of $86,870 is worth $98,063 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 88.6), an index of 123.3 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a social and community service managers at $106,700, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #6 of 51 on real pay (index 115.0). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a social and community service managers salary go least far?: Arkansas ranks last of 51 states for a social and community service managers: a $56,100 BLS median is worth only $62,253 after tax and cost of living (index 78.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a social and community service managers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.