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The differences between case workers and foster care workers 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 worker and a foster care worker. Additionally, a foster care worker has an average salary of $46,037, 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 foster care worker are foster care, social work, and child abuse.
| Case Worker | Foster Care Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $41,459 | $46,037 |
| Hourly rate | $19.93 | $22.13 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 107,329 | 151,625 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A Foster Care Worker helps improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families as well as increases the family's well-being and the academic functioning of children. They counsel families about issues regarding their child's care and develop healthy living situations.
Case workers and foster care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Case Worker | Foster Care Worker | |
| Average salary | $41,459 | $46,037 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $55,000 | Between $32,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Appalachian Regional Healthcare | Riverview Health |
| Best paying industry | Education | Construction |
There are a few differences between a case worker and a foster care worker in terms of educational background:
| Case Worker | Foster Care Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Boston University |
Here are the differences between case workers' and foster care workers' demographics:
| Case Worker | Foster Care Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% | Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |