Child protective investigator vs youth worker

The differences between child protective investigators and youth 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 child protective investigator and a youth worker. Additionally, a child protective investigator has an average salary of $47,903, which is higher than the $32,242 average annual salary of a youth worker.

The top three skills for a child protective investigator include patrol, social work and local law enforcement. The most important skills for a youth worker are direct supervision, CPR, and crisis intervention.

Child protective investigator vs youth worker overview

	Child Protective Investigator	Youth Worker
Yearly salary	$47,903	$32,242
Hourly rate	$23.03	$15.50
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	15,938	87,360
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

What does a child protective investigator do?

A child protective investigator is responsible for investigating incident reports for child-violating cases, collecting court evidence of child abuse, and keeping the child under safe custody for protection. Child protective investigators conduct field investigations by locating the area of concern, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing similar cases of violence. They coordinate with medical professionals to check the child's condition and record any signs of trauma and injuries. A child protective investigator may also attend court procedures to represent the child and testify to press charges with the abuser.

What does a youth worker do?

Youth workers specialize in handling and providing support to young individuals with behavioral difficulties. They are primarily responsible for devising recreational projects, handling the budget, producing progress reports, managing intervention programs, and counseling troubled youth while keeping their information confidential. There may be instances where one must also search for opportunities and apply for funding or sponsorship. Furthermore, as a youth worker, it is vital to assess an individual's condition to determine their needs and ensure that they will receive the proper treatment.

Child protective investigator vs youth worker salary

Child protective investigators and youth workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Child Protective Investigator	Youth Worker
Average salary	$47,903	$32,242
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $61,000	Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Camden, NJ	Freehold, NJ
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New Jersey
Best paying company	Saks Fifth Avenue	Salt Lake County
Best paying industry	Government	Education

Differences between child protective investigator and youth worker education

There are a few differences between a child protective investigator and a youth worker in terms of educational background:

	Child Protective Investigator	Youth Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	SUNY at Albany	SUNY at Albany

Child protective investigator vs youth worker demographics

Here are the differences between child protective investigators' and youth workers' demographics:

	Child Protective Investigator	Youth Worker
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 32.4% Female, 67.6%	Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4%
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, 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%

Differences between child protective investigator and youth worker duties and responsibilities

Child protective investigator example responsibilities.

Utilize locating systems, negotiate agreements, file motions and prepare subpoenas.
Review and approve time sheets, mileage reports for CPI assign to the unit.
Complete timely findings including determining if someone should be place on the child abuse registry.
Investigate reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation that are report to the state abuse hotline.
Respond to Hotline reports, conduct child safety assessments, and determine immediate risk to child.
Review child safety assessments as submitted by CPI, and provide direction and guidance in the investigation.

Youth worker example responsibilities.

Assist in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent compliance.
Certify in CPR, and basic first aid.
Demonstrate patience, compassion, and understanding while helping with homework.
Stay current with require safety certifications including CPR, first aid, and fire protection.
Conduct research, create newsletters and PowerPoint presentations.
Provide supervision and supportive rehabilitation for detain youths in a maximum security prison.

Child protective investigator vs youth worker skills

Common child protective investigator skills

Patrol, 35%
Social Work, 16%
Local Law Enforcement, 7%
CCTV, 4%
Child Protective, 4%
Family Dynamics, 3%

Common youth worker skills

Direct Supervision, 12%
CPR, 11%
Crisis Intervention, 10%
at-Risk Youth, 8%
Youth Development, 6%
Role Model, 5%

Child Protective Investigator vs. similar jobs

Child Protective Investigator related careers

Child Protective Investigator related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Community and Social Services Industry
Child Protective Investigator
Child Protective Investigator vs Youth Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs