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The differences between child welfare specialists and licensed social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a child welfare specialist, becoming a licensed social worker takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a licensed social worker has an average salary of $57,005, 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 licensed social worker are social work, patients, and home health.
| Child Welfare Specialist | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $50,377 | $57,005 |
| Hourly rate | $24.22 | $27.41 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 76,508 | 66,130 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
Licensed Social Workers are duly and legally recognized to carry out activities related to social work. They identify individuals or groups of people in need and assess what kind of help they require. They may assist these people in connecting to agencies that would cater to their needs. Licensed Social Workers also help people cope with their challenges. They are responsible for crafting treatment plans or well-being improvement plans for the individuals they help. They may also be called on during times of crisis to provide emotional support to the individuals involved.
Child welfare specialists and licensed social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Child Welfare Specialist | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $50,377 | $57,005 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $71,000 | Between $41,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cherry Hill, NJ | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of California | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a child welfare specialist and a licensed social worker in terms of educational background:
| Child Welfare Specialist | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | SUNY at Albany | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between child welfare specialists' and licensed social workers' demographics:
| Child Welfare Specialist | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.2% Female, 79.8% | Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9% |
| 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, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 13% |