Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between foster care workers 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 foster care worker, 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 $46,037 average annual salary of a foster care worker.
The top three skills for a foster care worker include foster care, social work and child abuse. The most important skills for a licensed social worker are social work, patients, and home health.
| Foster Care Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $46,037 | $57,005 |
| Hourly rate | $22.13 | $27.41 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 151,625 | 66,130 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A Foster Care Worker helps improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families as well as increases the family's well-being and the academic functioning of children. They counsel families about issues regarding their child's care and develop healthy living situations.
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.
Foster care workers and licensed social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Foster Care Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $46,037 | $57,005 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $65,000 | Between $41,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Riverview Health | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a foster care worker and a licensed social worker in terms of educational background:
| Foster Care Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | Boston University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between foster care workers' and licensed social workers' demographics:
| Foster Care Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9% | 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% |