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The differences between child welfare specialists and child protective 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 child welfare specialist and a child protective specialist. Additionally, a child protective specialist has an average salary of $52,032, which is higher than the $50,377 average annual salary of a child welfare specialist.
The top three skills for a child welfare specialist include social work, foster care and child safety. The most important skills for a child protective specialist are social work, social services, and mental health.
| Child Welfare Specialist | Child Protective Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,377 | $52,032 |
| Hourly rate | $24.22 | $25.02 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 76,508 | 75,325 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Child welfare specialists are professionals who are responsible for protecting children and youngsters from harm by visiting their homes and other residential facilities to investigate their living conditions. These specialists are required to determine the suitability of the homes and resources of foster and adoptive parents for child placement. They must serve as child advocates by attending court proceedings to provide inclusive court proceedings. Child welfare specialists must also work closely with local enforcement to ensure the safety of children.
A Child Protective Specialist is a social worker who handles suspected cases of abuse and neglect in children. They focus on performing research and investigation, conducting home visits and inspections, interviewing families and potential witnesses, gathering evidence, and reaching out to hospitals or schools to collect and analyze data. Through the findings of their investigation, a Child Protective Specialist draws conclusions and develops recommendations for the children's safety and welfare. Moreover, there are instances where they conduct interventions, refer families to other agencies, or coordinate with law enforcement.
Child welfare specialists and child protective specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Child Welfare Specialist | Child Protective Specialist | |
| Average salary | $50,377 | $52,032 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $71,000 | Between $41,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cherry Hill, NJ | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | University of California | Children's National Medical Center |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a child welfare specialist and a child protective specialist in terms of educational background:
| Child Welfare Specialist | Child Protective Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Albany | SUNY at Albany |
Here are the differences between child welfare specialists' and child protective specialists' demographics:
| Child Welfare Specialist | Child Protective Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.2% Female, 79.8% | Male, 21.2% Female, 78.8% |
| 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, 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% |