Head of Community

Impact: Brand building, customer retention, product feedback, thought leadership

Develops and executes comprehensive community strategies to foster engagement, build brand loyalty, and drive growth. Leads a team of community professionals, setting strategic direction and ensuring effective moderation and content initiatives. Serves as the primary advocate for the community's needs and interests within the organization.

What the day looks like

People interaction: Extensive
Team vs solo: 70% Team / 30% Solo
Client facing: Frequent
Impact visibility: Very High
Travel: 10-20% domestic for conferences and team meetings
Schedule flexibility: Flexible
Remote work: Hybrid
Typical work hours: 45-55 hours/week
Stress level: High

At a glance

Median salary: $160,000
Entry-level: $100,000 - $130,000
Senior: $220,000+
Growth by 2033: 10% (faster than average)
Demand: Growing
Freelance potential: Low
Salary growth potential: High to 80-120% growth from entry to senior
Typical student debt: $30,000 - $70,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

Community Platform Management
Data Analytics
Content Strategy
Event Management
Social Media Marketing
Budget Management

Soft skills

Strategic Thinking
Communication
Leadership
Empathy
Problem-solving
Conflict Resolution

Technical complexity: High

How to get there

Minimum education: Bachelor's Degree
Licensing: No
Years to mid-career: 5-8 years
Years to senior: 10-15 years
Career switching: Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

Where you can go from here

Typical progression

Community Manager
Senior Community Manager
Head of Community
VP, Community

Future outlook

Automation probability: 10% to low risk due to strategic, interpersonal, and leadership components
AI disruption risk: Low
Demand trend: Growing

How people feel about it

Overall satisfaction: 3.8/10
Meaning: 4/10
Work-life balance: 3.2/10
Prestige: 7.8/10
Social perception: High