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Case manager vs probation officer

The differences between case managers and probation officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a case manager and a probation officer. Additionally, a probation officer has an average salary of $47,252, 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 probation officer are criminal justice, mental health, and rehabilitation.

Case manager vs probation officer overview

Case ManagerProbation Officer
Yearly salary$43,118$47,252
Hourly rate$20.73$22.72
Growth rate9%-
Number of jobs84,95955,952
Job satisfaction4.55
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4544
Years of experience44

What does a case manager do?

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.

What does a probation officer do?

A probation officer is responsible for monitoring probationers' cases, evaluating terms, and overseeing rehabilitation processes. Probation officers strategize probational operations, as well as recommending treatment plans to achieve probational objectives. They also maintain progress reports, deciding on release requirements and other conditional services to motivate the probationers on adhering to their treatment procedures. A probation officer assesses the probationers' behaviors during the probationary period, regularly interacting with them to identify their challenges, and administering remedial actions.

Case manager vs probation officer salary

Case managers and probation officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Case ManagerProbation Officer
Average salary$43,118$47,252
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $61,000Between $31,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateNew HampshireNevada
Best paying companyWellpathHamilton
Best paying industryInsuranceGovernment

Differences between case manager and probation officer education

There are a few differences between a case manager and a probation officer in terms of educational background:

Case ManagerProbation Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorPsychologyCriminal Justice
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Case manager vs probation officer demographics

Here are the differences between case managers' and probation officers' demographics:

Case ManagerProbation Officer
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 23.4% Female, 76.6%Male, 45.4% Female, 54.6%
Race ratioBlack 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, 14.3% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage15%10%

Differences between case manager and probation officer duties and responsibilities

Case manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage all programs operations in accordance with HRA and industry regulations, agency policies and HIPAA guidelines.
  • Manage the care of patients with tuberculosis (TB) during their hospitalization and their discharge follow-up care.
  • Provide clients support with basic ADL's (shopping, payee services, budgets, managing and attending appointments).
  • Practice cognitive behavioral, DBT, motivational enhancement and structural family therapy.
  • Practice excellent customer service and build meaningful, professional relationships with families and patients.
  • Facilitate vocational rehabilitation and relate community services.
  • Show more

Probation officer example responsibilities.

  • Manage significant DUI caseload to court-ordered and conditional probation completion.
  • Create comprehensive case plans that identify needs of offenders in order to facilitate public safety and rehabilitation of the offender.
  • Promote positive changes in offender behavior that have been release from TDCJ to pursue their sentence.
  • Assist in the screening and selection of GPS offenders that are release from custody as a condition of bond.
  • Clerk probate, guardianship, commitment and juvenile, prepare minutes, schedule hearings and draft legal documents and correspondence.
  • Complete pre-sentence interviews and investigations.
  • Show more

Case manager vs probation officer skills

Common case manager skills
  • Social Work, 17%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Community Resources, 7%
  • Substance Abuse, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
Common probation officer skills
  • Criminal Justice, 12%
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Juvenile Offenders, 6%
  • Community Resources, 5%
  • Court Orders, 5%

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