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Community worker vs service provider

The differences between community workers and service providers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a community worker, becoming a service provider takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a community worker has an average salary of $40,029, which is higher than the $35,089 average annual salary of a service provider.

The top three skills for a community worker include social services, mental health and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a service provider are customer service, cleanliness, and social work.

Community worker vs service provider overview

Community WorkerService Provider
Yearly salary$40,029$35,089
Hourly rate$19.24$16.87
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs46,20125,552
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4343
Years of experience412

What does a community worker do?

Community workers are individuals who work with families or social communities to help promote or restore the social functioning of a community. These workers must promote social justice and maximizing human potential while advocating the rights of individuals and community groups. They must have the skills and flexibility to work with multiple client groups to assess and evaluate community projects and programs. Community workers must also work for non-profit organizations, government, and private sectors to provide human services.

What does a service provider do?

Service providers are individuals or entities offering services to an organization and other parties. They provide storage, processing, or network services. The providers offer organizations real estate, communications, education, legal, and consulting services. It is their job to complete the requested tasks of their clients, provide solutions to network problems, and recommend options based on the needs of their clients. They also suggest changes or opportunities necessary within the organization.

Community worker vs service provider salary

Community workers and service providers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Community WorkerService Provider
Average salary$40,029$35,089
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $55,000Between $23,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CitySan Mateo, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyUniversity of Illinois SpringfieldMeta
Best paying industryEducationInsurance

Differences between community worker and service provider education

There are a few differences between a community worker and a service provider in terms of educational background:

Community WorkerService Provider
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversitySUNY at Binghamton

Community worker vs service provider demographics

Here are the differences between community workers' and service providers' demographics:

Community WorkerService Provider
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 31.6% Female, 68.4%Male, 39.3% Female, 60.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 22.9% Asian, 6.2% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.1% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage21%11%

Differences between community worker and service provider duties and responsibilities

Community worker example responsibilities.

  • Prepare patients for abortion procedures; assist doctor and perform ultrasounds during procedures; support women physically and emotionally after abortions.
  • Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.

Service provider example responsibilities.

  • Develop contracting strategy to build capacity and achieve ongoing compliance with Medicare and Medicaid provider network adequacy requirements.
  • Certify to administer first aid, CPR; dispense medication.
  • Certify in first aid and CPR programs via company training.
  • Ensure contracts comply with HIPAA, fraud and abuse regulations and CMS guidelines.
  • Provide assistance to DHS provider staff in order for them to better navigate through the social service systems.
  • Exceed company standards for unit cleanliness and client/partner satisfaction.
  • Show more

Community worker vs service provider skills

Common community worker skills
  • Social Services, 12%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Financial Eligibility, 6%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Local Community, 5%
Common service provider skills
  • Customer Service, 31%
  • Cleanliness, 20%
  • Social Work, 7%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • Patients, 4%
  • Community Resources, 2%

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