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The differences between casework specialists and protective service specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a casework specialist and a protective service specialist. Additionally, a protective service specialist has an average salary of $50,293, which is higher than the $40,044 average annual salary of a casework specialist.
The top three skills for a casework specialist include social work, vulnerable adults and social services. The most important skills for a protective service specialist are social work, child safety, and foster care.
| Casework Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $40,044 | $50,293 |
| Hourly rate | $19.25 | $24.18 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 33,160 | 81,211 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Casework Specialist advises the public about how to maintain the well-being of their children and family life. They work for schools, social services agencies, healthcare facilities, or government departments.
Protective Service Specialists provide information to individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency through child support services and employment opportunities. Most of these specialists recommend family services include parenting education, drug counseling, and financial base services. They review applicant documentation to determine eligibility for federal and state aid programs, including food stamps, Medicaid, and emergency assistance. Also, protective service specialists assist families with the resources that can help resolve the issues that risk the children's placement. They may even provide staff supervision about referrals obtained to ensure that they meet the criteria for services and intervention.
Casework specialists and protective service specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Casework Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Average salary | $40,044 | $50,293 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $53,000 | Between $32,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | - | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | - | Parsons |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a casework specialist and a protective service specialist in terms of educational background:
| Casework Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | SUNY at Albany |
Here are the differences between casework specialists' and protective service specialists' demographics:
| Casework Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6% | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% |
| 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% |