Dialysis social worker vs clinical social worker

The differences between dialysis social workers and clinical social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a dialysis social worker and a clinical social worker. Additionally, a clinical social worker has an average salary of $63,056, which is higher than the $52,616 average annual salary of a dialysis social worker.

The top three skills for a dialysis social worker include social work, patients and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a clinical social worker are social work, patients, and behavioral health.

Dialysis social worker vs clinical social worker overview

	Dialysis Social Worker	Clinical Social Worker
Yearly salary	$52,616	$63,056
Hourly rate	$25.30	$30.32
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	100,651	124,816
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 59%	Master's Degree, 54%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a dialysis social worker do?

A dialysis social worker supports patients undergoing dialysis, educating and helping them cope with the changes brought by their disease and treatment. They conduct initial interviews and assessments to identify the patients' needs and develop plans to meet them, help patients understand and navigate through the healthcare system, coordinate services for the patients, and work together with healthcare providers to ensure the patients get to receive optimal care. They may also communicate with insurance providers and coordinate with families to help them adjust to having a loved one in dialysis.

What does a clinical social worker do?

A clinical social worker is an individual in social work, which provides help to individuals in need of improving their lives and their well-being. Clinical social workers must work with different individuals to help them address difficulties that they are trying to overcome. To perform counseling services, clinical social workers must take and pass the professional licensure examination. They also help disadvantaged individuals connect to resources and services that they may benefit from.

Dialysis social worker vs clinical social worker salary

Dialysis social workers and clinical social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Dialysis Social Worker	Clinical Social Worker
Average salary	$52,616	$63,056
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $69,000	Between $42,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City	-	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Tucson Electric Power
Best paying industry	-	Education

Differences between dialysis social worker and clinical social worker education

There are a few differences between a dialysis social worker and a clinical social worker in terms of educational background:

	Dialysis Social Worker	Clinical Social Worker
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 59%	Master's Degree, 54%
Most common major	Social Work	Social Work
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Dialysis social worker vs clinical social worker demographics

Here are the differences between dialysis social workers' and clinical social workers' demographics:

	Dialysis Social Worker	Clinical Social Worker
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 18.5% Female, 81.5%	Male, 21.7% Female, 78.3%
Race ratio	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%	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	13%	13%

Differences between dialysis social worker and clinical social worker duties and responsibilities

Dialysis social worker example responsibilities.

Teach and supervise MSW and BSW students in educational practicums.
Position involve interdisciplinary collaboration and working with the patients and their families by providing assistance with emotional adjustment to illness.
Facilitate assistance to both permanent and guest patients in the arrangement of dialysis treatment when traveling and ensure completion of arrangements.
Work with a complex interdisciplinary team facilitating treatment for patients on medical floors including oncology, dialysis, cardiac and maternity.
Analyze psychological / psycho-social evaluations, IEP's, and medical histories within a referral packet to determine eligibility.

Clinical social worker example responsibilities.

Understand manage care, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Screen, identify, diagnose using DSM nomenclature, treat and manage mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
Provide clinical services to patients in rehabilitation and oncology including assessment, crisis intervention, grief therapy, and discharge planning.
Provide individual, group, family therapy, team coordination, discharge planning, utilization review and MSW student supervision.
Participate in weekly interdisciplinary team meetings to determine Medicare length of skil nursing stay.
Facilitate therapy, symptom management, and rehabilitation groups for mental health clients in partial hospitalization setting.

Dialysis social worker vs clinical social worker skills

Common dialysis social worker skills

Social Work, 46%
Patients, 29%
Rehabilitation, 3%
Hemodialysis, 3%
ESRD, 3%
Social Services, 2%

Common clinical social worker skills

Social Work, 28%
Patients, 17%
Behavioral Health, 6%
Patient Care, 5%
Community Resources, 4%
MSW, 3%

Dialysis Social Worker vs. similar jobs

Dialysis Social Worker related careers

Dialysis Social Worker related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Community and Social Services Industry
Dialysis Social Worker
Dialysis Social Worker vs Clinical Social Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs