Worcester Business Journal Special Editions

C O O L S T U F F 2 0 2 2 • A Guide to Career Opportunities in Central Mass. 25 specialist for Abby's House in Worcester. "Our pay is not up to par with corporate America. If you do go into this field, you have to have that joy and that pas- sion." Job outlook Professions in the nonprofit industry appear to be growing. Employment for health education specialists and com- munity health workers is expected to grow by 12% between 2021 and 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average growth rate for all occupations is 5%. The median pay for those positions was $48,860 per year, or $23.49 per hour, according to BLS. According to the living wage calculator from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a living wage for an adult in Worcester with no children is $18.12 per hour. A parent with one child has to make $37.82 per hour to have a living wage, according to MIT. Financial prospects are a bit better at a management level, national data show. The median pay for social and community ser- vice managers was $74,000 per year in 2021, the BLS said, which comes out to $35.58 per hour. Still, that's below the living wage for a single parent, according to the MIT calcula- tor. The U.S. economy is expected to add 20,400 social and community service man- ager positions between 2021 and 2031, according to the BLS. When Karen Reynolds first started at the now-Seven Hills Foundation in Worcester in 1980, she made $10,000. At the time, she thought she was rich. The nonprofit field has never been lucra- tive, she said, but over her 42-year career at the foundation, Reynolds said she's been able to save wisely and move around enough to positions that paid more and more. Abdelgadir, who is 29, said he saves money by living at home with his parents. He moved out for a while during the pan- demic, but he quickly found himself living paycheck to paycheck. The low pay sometimes becomes frustrat- ing, Abdelgadir said. He hasn't been able to meet some financial milestones like home- ownership he sees some of his friends achieving. Person said she struggled to find an affordable apartment on her most recent go-around. But Abdelgadir said he gets through that by reminding himself why he chose the field in the first place. "I always remind myself there will come a day where it will be worth it, and I will find a job that will pay me more than enough than I deserve or expect," he said. "I always think, 'What is my end goal, money or change?' That's the question I always have to ask myself, that's what keeps me going and staying patient." A calling, not a job Reynolds started working at Seven Hills as an intern when she was still in college at Worcester State University. From day one, she said she felt a strong sense of purpose. She was drawn to the nonprofit's mission of helping people live their lives to the best of their ability. Today, she is assistant vice pres- ident of Seven Hills community services. Staffing is a big issue at Seven Hills right Meghan Person Employees at Worcester nonprofit African Community Education help immigrants adjust to living in Central Massachusetts. 1. High emotional payoff: Workers said they feel like they 're making a difference in the world. 2. Flexible schedule: If events are held in the evening, workers can start their days late or leave early the following day. 3. Passion-driven work environment: You're surrounded by people who feel passionately about the difference they 're making. 4. Low pay: It's not a profession where you'll get rich. Most people do it because they love it, not because they want to make money. 5. On-call work: You never know when people are going to need your help, so you could find yourself answering the phone after 5 p.m. FEATURES OF A NONPROFIT CAREER PHOTO | COURTESY OF AFRICAN COMMUNITY EDUCATION

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