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The differences between foster care workers and rehabilitation counselors 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 rehabilitation counselor takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a foster care worker has an average salary of $46,037, which is higher than the $43,111 average annual salary of a rehabilitation counselor.
The top three skills for a foster care worker include foster care, social work and child abuse. The most important skills for a rehabilitation counselor are rehabilitation, social work, and mental health.
| Foster Care Worker | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $46,037 | $43,111 |
| Hourly rate | $22.13 | $20.73 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 151,625 | 77,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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.
Rehabilitation counselors are professional counselors who are responsible for helping individuals cope with their disabilities to live independently. These counselors are required to consult other professionals, family members, and individuals when developing a treatment plan based on the goals, strengths, limitations, and personal values of their clients. They must make connections with community support so that individuals with disabilities can avail of the types of services that are available. Rehabilitation counselors must also find employers and educate them in understanding the needs and abilities of disabled people.
Foster care workers and rehabilitation counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Foster Care Worker | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Average salary | $46,037 | $43,111 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $65,000 | Between $31,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Cleveland, OH |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Ohio |
| Best paying company | Riverview Health | North Shore Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Government |
There are a few differences between a foster care worker and a rehabilitation counselor in terms of educational background:
| Foster Care Worker | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | Boston University | University of Washington |
Here are the differences between foster care workers' and rehabilitation counselors' demographics:
| Foster Care Worker | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9% | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 21% |