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Advocate vs case worker

The differences between advocates and case workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an advocate, becoming a case worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a case worker has an average salary of $41,459, which is higher than the $39,497 average annual salary of an advocate.

The top three skills for an advocate include CPR, customer service and developmental disabilities. The most important skills for a case worker are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.

Advocate vs case worker overview

AdvocateCase Worker
Yearly salary$39,497$41,459
Hourly rate$18.99$19.93
Growth rate12%9%
Number of jobs74,970107,329
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4342
Years of experience124

What does an advocate do?

An advocate is a voice for the voiceless. It is their responsibility to speak on behalf of an individual or a particular cause. Most of the duties will vary depending on the line of organization or duty involved; however, an advocate must have extensive knowledge or background on the subject matter. Furthermore, an advocate must be present at gatherings regarding the cause, assist in the negotiation and mediation processes involving contracts and legal documentation, provide or convey accurate information, and defend what they represent.

What does a case worker do?

Caseworkers are social workers who watch over the welfare of underprivileged individuals and at-risk families by counseling and providing them with assistance. Usually employed under the government or a local non-profit organization, a caseworker must conduct a thorough interview and house visits to determine the needs of the family. They then refer them to any programs or agencies that can give them the specific care and help needed. Furthermore, it is crucial to identify neglect and abuse signs, reporting them to the authorities right away.

Advocate vs case worker salary

Advocates and case workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

AdvocateCase Worker
Average salary$39,497$41,459
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $58,000Between $30,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew Jersey
Best paying companyMicrosoftAppalachian Regional Healthcare
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between advocate and case worker education

There are a few differences between an advocate and a case worker in terms of educational background:

AdvocateCase Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at BinghamtonUniversity of Pennsylvania

Advocate vs case worker demographics

Here are the differences between advocates' and case workers' demographics:

AdvocateCase Worker
Average age4342
Gender ratioMale, 25.7% Female, 74.3%Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 6.2% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage11%10%

Differences between advocate and case worker duties and responsibilities

Advocate example responsibilities.

  • Develop and maintain communication and contact with community services organizations and other agencies concern with veterans and public service programs.
  • Perform CPR and a as needed.
  • Administer first aid and CPR in emergency situations.
  • Record daily efforts make into an ETO software system.
  • Perform basic counseling, basic interviewing, conflict mediation, and advocacy for batter women.
  • Identify and provide emergency crisis service as needed, often through mediation or phone calls.
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Case worker example responsibilities.

  • Establish collaborative relationships with patients within a supportive atmosphere to assist in confronting drug relate behavior and achieving sobriety.
  • Review and research leads regarding personal injury cases by obtaining information from the Medicaid recipient's attorney and insurance adjuster
  • File, close and maintain records in either physical case file or on ETO.
  • Train new employees and assign tasks in driving and all responsibilities in DCS documentations.
  • Provide weekly face to face updates to youth and telephonic updates to family members/sponsor with documentation find in ETO.
  • Facilitate DCS court order supervised visitation during the reunification process.
  • Show more

Advocate vs case worker skills

Common advocate skills
  • CPR, 12%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 11%
  • Cleanliness, 10%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
Common case worker skills
  • Social Work, 20%
  • Crisis Intervention, 8%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Substance Abuse, 6%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Child Abuse, 5%

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