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Child support investigator vs foster care worker

The differences between child support investigators 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 child support investigator and a foster care worker. Additionally, a child support investigator has an average salary of $47,732, which is higher than the $46,037 average annual salary of a foster care worker.

The top three skills for a child support investigator include law enforcement agencies, protective services and child support orders. The most important skills for a foster care worker are foster care, social work, and child abuse.

Child support investigator vs foster care worker overview

Child Support InvestigatorFoster Care Worker
Yearly salary$47,732$46,037
Hourly rate$22.95$22.13
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs75,493151,625
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Child support investigator vs foster care worker salary

Child support investigators and foster care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Child Support InvestigatorFoster Care Worker
Average salary$47,732$46,037
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $60,000Between $32,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City-Baltimore, MD
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Riverview Health
Best paying industry-Construction

Differences between child support investigator and foster care worker education

There are a few differences between a child support investigator and a foster care worker in terms of educational background:

Child Support InvestigatorFoster Care Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeSocial Work
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaBoston University

Child support investigator vs foster care worker demographics

Here are the differences between child support investigators' and foster care workers' demographics:

Child Support InvestigatorFoster Care Worker
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 32.7% Female, 67.3%Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage10%10%

Differences between child support investigator and foster care worker duties and responsibilities

Child support investigator example responsibilities.

  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Provide information and support to transitioning foster youth during assessment, case planning or other permanency and transition-relate activities.
  • Perform related adoptions and supervisory visits for state adoptions.

Foster care worker example responsibilities.

  • Conduct unscheduled regular school visits to attain records of attendance, suspensions, IEP, and treatment plans.
  • Manage to write progress note, complete FASP's and input information on PROMIS on a timely manner.
  • Manage caseload of 18 23 children and adolescents in DSS custody due to abuse, neglect and criminal activity.
  • Manage a caseload of families with children in DSS custody awaiting return home to family of origin base upon progress make.
  • Lead presentation and training sessions to community and inter-agency groups.
  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Show more

Child support investigator vs foster care worker skills

Common child support investigator skills
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 11%
  • Protective Services, 7%
  • Child Support Orders, 7%
  • Child Care, 7%
  • Minimum Standards, 6%
  • Community Resources, 5%
Common foster care worker skills
  • Foster Care, 26%
  • Social Work, 19%
  • Child Abuse, 7%
  • Social Services, 6%
  • Foster Children, 5%
  • Community Resources, 4%

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