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Community health worker vs case manager

The differences between community health workers and case managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a community health worker and a case manager. Additionally, a case manager has an average salary of $43,118, which is higher than the $37,079 average annual salary of a community health worker.

The top three skills for a community health worker include patients, community health and social work. The most important skills for a case manager are social work, patients, and community resources.

Community health worker vs case manager overview

Community Health WorkerCase Manager
Yearly salary$37,079$43,118
Hourly rate$17.83$20.73
Growth rate12%9%
Number of jobs82,44584,959
Job satisfaction54.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4345
Years of experience44

What does a community health worker do?

A community health worker is a health professional who is a lay member of the community that provides health care in both urban and rural environments. Community health workers offer the health needs of the community they serve and provide some direct services such as first aid and blood pressure screening. They help people understand their health conditions and deliver health information by using appropriate cultural terms and concepts. Community health workers also make home visits to patients who are clinically ill, pregnant women, and individuals at high risk of health problems.

What does a case manager do?

A case manager is responsible for giving advice, handling plans for the client's recovery, and connecting with other human service professionals to ask for further options and recommendations for the client's concerns. Case managers should have excellent communication and listening skills to evaluate the client's needs, ensuring that they will have the utmost care and safety through efficient advocacy. A case manager should be able to provide a reliable support system for the client and monitor progress to achieve wellness and guarantee satisfaction.

Community health worker vs case manager salary

Community health workers and case managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Community Health WorkerCase Manager
Average salary$37,079$43,118
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $49,000Between $30,000 And $61,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateConnecticutNew Hampshire
Best paying companyPacific Northwest National LaboratoryWellpath
Best paying industryInsuranceInsurance

Differences between community health worker and case manager education

There are a few differences between a community health worker and a case manager in terms of educational background:

Community Health WorkerCase Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Community health worker vs case manager demographics

Here are the differences between community health workers' and case managers' demographics:

Community Health WorkerCase Manager
Average age4345
Gender ratioMale, 23.5% Female, 76.5%Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 5.8% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage21%15%

Differences between community health worker and case manager duties and responsibilities

Community health worker example responsibilities.

  • Lead process and counseling groups gear toward healing from both PTSD and substance dependence issues.
  • Manage large databases, analyze records, perform literature reviews, prepare PowerPoint presentations, and interpret data for publication.
  • Complete vitals on all patients and record vitals in EMR.
  • Train and educate professionals on HIV prevention and testing in the community.
  • Create program materials such as flyers, letters, banners, handouts, etc.
  • Assess asthma control by completing questionnaires during home visits and communicating this information via EMR.
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Case manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage all programs operations in accordance with HRA and industry regulations, agency policies and HIPAA guidelines.
  • Manage the care of patients with tuberculosis (TB) during their hospitalization and their discharge follow-up care.
  • Provide clients support with basic ADL's (shopping, payee services, budgets, managing and attending appointments).
  • Practice cognitive behavioral, DBT, motivational enhancement and structural family therapy.
  • Practice excellent customer service and build meaningful, professional relationships with families and patients.
  • Facilitate vocational rehabilitation and relate community services.
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Community health worker vs case manager skills

Common community health worker skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Community Health, 12%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Community Resources, 7%
  • CHW, 5%
  • Social Services, 4%
Common case manager skills
  • Social Work, 17%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Community Resources, 7%
  • Substance Abuse, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%

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