Family support worker vs social worker

The differences between family support workers and 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 family support worker, becoming a social worker takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a social worker has an average salary of $50,102, which is higher than the $38,207 average annual salary of a family support worker.

The top three skills for a family support worker include social work, foster care and family support. The most important skills for a social worker are social work, patients, and patient care.

Family support worker vs social worker overview

	Family Support Worker	Social Worker
Yearly salary	$38,207	$50,102
Hourly rate	$18.37	$24.09
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	159,875	77,340
Job satisfaction	-	4.5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	42	45
Years of experience	4	2

What does a family support worker do?

A family service worker is a social service agent who assesses the needs of family and promotes wellbeing, social justice, and human rights through governmental and social service agencies. Family service workers offer services that can include counseling and mediation to families that will help them navigate the protocols of the social system. They act as liaisons between families facing problems and different government organizations. Family service workers also ensure that families in need are getting the benefits they are entitled to, as well as help them access various community resources.

What does a social worker do?

Social workers help their clients get through problems that they may be facing. Social workers help identify individuals or groups of people, usually families, who may need assistance, generally through a set of pre-determined criteria. They then determine the best ways to help their clients by interviewing them, getting to know them, and understanding the context of their lives. They create plans that will help their clients become better, such as integrating into a new environment, assisting them in their needs, or even rescuing them from their current place. Social workers have good interpersonal skills and communication skills.

Family support worker vs social worker salary

Family support workers and social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Family Support Worker	Social Worker
Average salary	$38,207	$50,102
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $54,000	Between $37,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Portland, OR
Highest paying state	New York	Oregon
Best paying company	St. Elizabeth's Health Center	Health Advocates
Best paying industry	Government	Government

Differences between family support worker and social worker education

There are a few differences between a family support worker and a social worker in terms of educational background:

	Family Support Worker	Social Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Psychology	Social Work
Most common college	Hunter College of the City University of New York	University of Pennsylvania

Family support worker vs social worker demographics

Here are the differences between family support workers' and social workers' demographics:

	Family Support Worker	Social Worker
Average age	42	45
Gender ratio	Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%	Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5%
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%

Differences between family support worker and social worker duties and responsibilities

Family support worker example responsibilities.

Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
Interview clients and/or their representatives and complete appropriate paperwork for filing claims for Medicaid.
Determine eligibility of food stamps, medicaid, and welfare benefits including supportive services.
Mediate conflicts between patients, handle medical emergencies, assist patients in developing and implementing positive and cooperative living skills.
Initiate and maintain regular contact with families and establishing a trust relationship, primarily with DCF families.
Prepare petitions on cases which include a summary of allegations and DCF s findings to request judicial action when require.

Show more

Social worker example responsibilities.

Assist clients in achieving treatment goals such as anger, ADHD, grief, social skills, and manners.
Lead and co-le CBT and DBT skills-base groups with participants, as well as relapse prevention, mindfulness and process groups.
Support patient questions and issues regarding Medicare ESRD entitlement and Medicaid and assist in the completion of the appropriate documentation.
Coordinate IPU discharge planning patients to SNF, ALF, PCH or in-home care with necessary support for care.
Facilitate relationships with AKF and other patient assistance programs, VA, Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance providers.
Complete Medicaid and Medicare applications as needed.

Show more

Family support worker vs social worker skills

Common family support worker skills

Social Work, 20%
Foster Care, 9%
Family Support, 7%
Community Resources, 7%
Family Services, 6%
Mental Health, 6%

Common social worker skills

Social Work, 30%
Patients, 15%
Patient Care, 5%
MSW, 4%
Discharge Planning, 4%
Home Health, 4%

Family Support Worker vs. similar jobs

Family Support Worker related careers

Family Support Worker related jobs

What similar roles do

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z