Case worker vs case management specialist

The differences between case workers and case management specialists 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 worker, becoming a case management specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a case management specialist has an average salary of $41,553, which is higher than the $41,459 average annual salary of a case worker.

The top three skills for a case worker include social work, crisis intervention and patients. The most important skills for a case management specialist are patients, social work, and mental health.

Case worker vs case management specialist overview

	Case Worker	Case Management Specialist
Yearly salary	$41,459	$41,553
Hourly rate	$19.93	$19.98
Growth rate	9%	12%
Number of jobs	107,329	153,985
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	42	43
Years of experience	4	12

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.

What does a case management specialist do?

In healthcare facilities, a case management specialist is in charge of ensuring that patients get quality service. Their responsibilities often include handling admission and discharge procedures, preparing and processing documents, gathering and organizing patient information, and developing strategies to optimize case management operations. There are also instances where they must address patient concerns and issues, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a case management specialist, it is essential to function while adhering to the facility's policies and regulations.

Case worker vs case management specialist salary

Case workers and case management specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Case Worker	Case Management Specialist
Average salary	$41,459	$41,553
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $55,000	Between $27,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	San Mateo, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Hawaii
Best paying company	Appalachian Regional Healthcare	McKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry	Education	Technology

Differences between case worker and case management specialist education

There are a few differences between a case worker and a case management specialist in terms of educational background:

	Case Worker	Case Management Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Psychology	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY at Binghamton

Case worker vs case management specialist demographics

Here are the differences between case workers' and case management specialists' demographics:

	Case Worker	Case Management Specialist
Average age	42	43
Gender ratio	Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2%	Male, 19.6% Female, 80.4%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%
LGBT Percentage	10%	11%

Differences between case worker and case management specialist duties and responsibilities

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.

Case management specialist example responsibilities.

Manage caseload by providing care coordination to individuals with a primary intellectual/developmental disability diagnosis all of whom receive community-base waiver services.
Provide case management to give emergency financial assistance to veterans and their families during a financial crisis.
Complete admission, stay and discharge reviews utilizing Interqual criteria to evaluate medical necessity as indicated by corporate standards.
Fax documents to skil nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities.
Perform psycho-social management, intervention, advocacy, and referral services for patients and significant others.
Supervise in educating patients and direct care staff about self-management of chronic illness tailoring instructions to patient's individual circumstances.

Case worker vs case management specialist skills

Common case worker skills

Social Work, 20%
Crisis Intervention, 8%
Patients, 7%
Substance Abuse, 6%
Community Resources, 6%
Child Abuse, 5%

Common case management specialist skills

Patients, 19%
Social Work, 15%
Mental Health, 8%
Community Resources, 4%
Patient Care, 4%
Crisis Intervention, 4%

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Case Worker vs Case Management Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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