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The differences between case workers and case planners 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 planner takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a case planner has an average salary of $43,496, 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 planner are social work, foster care, and NYC.
| Case Worker | Case Planner | |
| Yearly salary | $41,459 | $43,496 |
| Hourly rate | $19.93 | $20.91 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 107,329 | 36,065 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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.
Case planners are social workers who provide assistance to children and their families to improve their social and psychological functioning as well as maximize the well-being of families. These planners are required to design service plans that address the safety, behavioral, education, and permanency needs of families and adolescents. They must identify potential child abuse and report any suspected abuses to the appropriate authorities. Case planners must also facilitate counseling to domestic violence victims and assist families in obtaining protection orders from victim service nonprofit organizations.
Case workers and case planners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Case Worker | Case Planner | |
| Average salary | $41,459 | $43,496 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $55,000 | Between $33,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Islandia, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Appalachian Regional Healthcare | The New York Foundling |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a case worker and a case planner in terms of educational background:
| Case Worker | Case Planner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between case workers' and case planners' demographics:
| Case Worker | Case Planner | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% | Male, 19.2% Female, 80.8% |
| 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, 12.3% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 25.9% Asian, 6.1% White, 48.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 11% |