Online Human Services Degree in Wisconsin: Salary, Schools & Outlook (2026)

Quick answer: Wisconsin employs about 3,580 social and community service managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state human services or behavioral health agency. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.

Compare human services programs enrolling now:

Licensing and Credentials in Wisconsin

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.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state human services or behavioral health agency that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

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 8 schools within 192 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 8 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

Rasmussen University-Wisconsin

Green Bay, WI 74.2 miles away BOC Score 72.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 904 South Taylor Street, Suite 100 Green Bay, WI 54303-2349
  • (920) 593-8400
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 32
  • Annual completions: 29
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,996 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Oshkosh, WI 33.2 miles away BOC Score 59.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 50.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 246
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,730 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Saint Norbert College

De Pere, WI 70.5 miles away BOC Score 56.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 72.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 30
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,944 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Wisconsin Lutheran College

Milwaukee, WI 68.8 miles away BOC Score 55.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 63.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 48
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,728 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Ottawa University-Milwaukee

Brookfield, WI 65.7 miles away BOC Score 50.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 245 South Executive Drive, Suite 340 Brookfield, WI 53005
  • (262) 879-0200
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 6
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,228 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Herzing University-Madison

Madison, WI 40.6 miles away BOC Score 35.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 28.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 21
  • Annual completions: 1118
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,575 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa

Wauwatosa, WI 67.4 miles away BOC Score 22.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 21.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 217
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $43,374 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University

Hayward, WI 192.1 miles away BOC Score 19.5
Tuition $6,030 - $17,202
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 18.0%
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 11
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $46,909 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Social and Community Service Managers Earn in Wisconsin

Social and Community Service Managers in Wisconsin earn a median $82,130 per year, above the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Human Services Pay and Employment in Wisconsin at a Glance

MetricWisconsinNationalSource
Median annual wage$82,130$80,390BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$61,090$53,150BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$70,540$64,290BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$98,490$103,200BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$115,520$132,260BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment3,580209,330BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.91.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state6.4%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Wisconsin Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Wisconsin median of $82,130 sits above the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.9 puts Wisconsin slightly below the national average, so the occupation is a little less common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Wisconsin

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Madison$88,130500
Fond du Lac$86,03060
Janesville$85,010110
Kenosha$84,50060
Appleton$82,550130
Milwaukee$82,290860
Racine$82,130100
La Crosse$81,640110
Eau Claire$81,120140
Sheboygan$80,17060

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Agency work exists where the agencies are: community mental health centers, county human services departments, aging services and residential programs all hire locally.

Social and Community Service Managers Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), social and community service managers wages in Wisconsin vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington3,570$89,990$98,430$63,240$139,380
Milwaukee-Waukesha860$82,290$86,290$62,390$112,980
Madison500$88,130$93,570$63,440$129,720
Duluth300$75,410$81,230$53,850$117,050
Green Bay200$79,960$82,320$59,860$100,500
Oshkosh-Neenah150$79,920$81,600$64,320$100,470
Eau Claire140$81,120$79,980$54,540$100,790
Appleton130$82,550$84,080$60,210$102,590
Janesville-Beloit110$85,010$88,990$62,020$116,700
La Crosse-Onalaska110$81,640$82,110$61,550$97,770
Racine-Mount Pleasant100$82,130$83,730$62,150$101,180
Fond du Lac60$86,030$93,110$61,930$130,010
Kenosha60$84,500$86,060$61,640$120,190
Sheboygan60$80,170$84,620$63,540$99,440
Wausau60$79,060$82,490$60,800$105,390

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Wisconsin Metro Areas With Published Data

Appleton * Eau Claire * Green Bay * Janesville * La Crosse * Madison * Milwaukee * Oshkosh * Racine


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 Wisconsin?

The median annual wage for social and community service managers in Wisconsin is $82,130, above the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $70,540 at the 25th percentile to $98,490 at the 75th.

How many social and community service managers work in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin holds about 3,580 human services professional jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 209,330, and BLS projects about 18,600 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a human services professional in Wisconsin?

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. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state human services or behavioral health agency before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a human services associate, bachelor's or master's online while working in Wisconsin?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state human services or behavioral health agency.

What is the highest-paying area of Wisconsin for social and community service managers?

Among Wisconsin metro areas with published data, Madison reports the highest median at $88,130 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Wisconsin a good state for social and community service managers?

On pay, the state median of $82,130 sits above the national $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.9 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

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/.