Human Services Degree Programs in Spokane, WA (2026)

Quick answer: The Spokane metro employs about 370 social and community service managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state human services or behavioral health agency.

Compare human services programs enrolling now:

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Human services itself is unlicensed - that is the practical difference from social work. The credentials that stack on top are state-specific: peer support certification, behavioral technician registries, case management certifications and the substance use disorder counseling tiers, each with its own training-hour requirements.

See the Washington licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state human services or behavioral health agency.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 6 schools within 244 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 6 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA 244.1 miles away BOC Score 69.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 65.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 285
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,560 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Kirkland, WA 220.2 miles away BOC Score 68.9
Tuition $5,997 - $16,339
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 38.3%
  • Programs offered: 53
  • Annual completions: 878
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,891 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Tacoma Community College

Tacoma, WA 239.6 miles away BOC Score 68.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 32.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 27
  • Annual completions: 911
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,189 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Edmonds College

Lynnwood, WA 227.6 miles away BOC Score 67.5
Tuition $4,810 - $20,062
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 31.1%
  • Programs offered: 69
  • Annual completions: 883
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,875 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA 152.5 miles away BOC Score 60.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 51.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 22
  • Annual completions: 726
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $63,444 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

City University of Seattle

Seattle, WA 228.6 miles away BOC Score 59.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 35
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $83,698 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Social and Community Service Managers Earn in Spokane

Social and Community Service Managers in the Spokane area earn a median $95,640 per year, above the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Human Services Pay in Spokane, WA

MetricSpokane metroWashingtonNational
Median annual wage$95,640$103,000$80,390
10th percentile$61,530$71,270$53,150
25th percentile$76,760$84,250$64,290
75th percentile$120,010$128,650$103,200
90th percentile$142,550$156,990$132,260
Employment3703,650209,330
Location quotient1.08-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Spokane median of $95,640 is above the national median of $80,390, and below the Washington statewide median of $103,000 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.08 means social and community service managers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Agency work exists where the agencies are: community mental health centers, county human services departments, aging services and residential programs all hire locally.

Other Washington Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Seattle$106,4002,040
Olympia$108,380220
Bellingham$97,380110
Yakima$100,510110

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do social and community service managers make in Spokane?

The median annual wage for social and community service managers in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area is $95,640, above the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many social and community service managers work in the Spokane area?

The Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area employs about 370 social and community service managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do social and community service managers in Spokane need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Human services itself is unlicensed - that is the practical difference from social work. The credentials that stack on top are state-specific: peer support certification, behavioral technician registries, case management certifications and the substance use disorder counseling tiers, each with its own training-hour requirements. Confirm current requirements with your state human services or behavioral health agency.

Can I study human services online from Spokane?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state human services or behavioral health agency.

Is Spokane a better market than the rest of Washington?

The Spokane metro median is $95,640 against a statewide median of $103,000 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Social and Community Service Managers (SOC 11-9151), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.