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The differences between case managers and paralegals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a case manager, becoming a paralegal takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a paralegal has an average salary of $49,943, which is higher than the $43,118 average annual salary of a case manager.
The top three skills for a case manager include social work, patients and community resources. The most important skills for a paralegal are litigation, legal research, and law firm.
| Case Manager | Paralegal | |
| Yearly salary | $43,118 | $49,943 |
| Hourly rate | $20.73 | $24.01 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 84,959 | 5,177 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A case manager is responsible for giving advice, handling plans for the client's recovery, and connecting with other human service professionals to ask for further options and recommendations for the client's concerns. Case managers should have excellent communication and listening skills to evaluate the client's needs, ensuring that they will have the utmost care and safety through efficient advocacy. A case manager should be able to provide a reliable support system for the client and monitor progress to achieve wellness and guarantee satisfaction.
Paralegals are law firm or legal department employees who work on cases with lawyers. They handle different activities, usually administrative or clerical, such as organizing and maintaining files, updating records, and managing correspondences, among others. Paralegals also handle different activities directly related to active cases being worked on by lawyers in the firm or department. They assist lawyers on cases by preparing materials needed for trials, conducting legal research, verifying trial facts, helping during interviews, getting statements from those involved in the case, and creating presentation materials. Paralegals should have knowledge of laws and should be familiar with landmark cases.
Case managers and paralegals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Case Manager | Paralegal | |
| Average salary | $43,118 | $49,943 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $61,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Wellpath | Arnall Golden Gregory |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Professional |
There are a few differences between a case manager and a paralegal in terms of educational background:
| Case Manager | Paralegal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Legal Support Services |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between case managers' and paralegals' demographics:
| Case Manager | Paralegal | |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6% | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 5.7% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 9% |