Foster care worker vs service counselor

The differences between foster care workers and service 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 service counselor takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a foster care worker has an average salary of $46,037, which is higher than the $35,402 average annual salary of a service counselor.

The top three skills for a foster care worker include foster care, social work and child abuse. The most important skills for a service counselor are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.

Foster care worker vs service counselor overview

	Foster Care Worker	Service Counselor
Yearly salary	$46,037	$35,402
Hourly rate	$22.13	$17.02
Growth rate	9%	12%
Number of jobs	151,625	44,284
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	42	43
Years of experience	4	12

What does a foster care worker do?

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.

What does a service counselor do?

Service counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials. Their duties include inspiring clients to talk about their emotions and experiences, helping them determine their action plans and goals, as well as designing therapeutic methods. Also, they may refer their clients to other services or psychologists.

Foster care worker vs service counselor salary

Foster care workers and service counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Foster Care Worker	Service Counselor
Average salary	$46,037	$35,402
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $65,000	Between $24,000 And $51,000
Highest paying City	Baltimore, MD	Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Hawaii
Best paying company	Riverview Health	Google
Best paying industry	Construction	Education

Differences between foster care worker and service counselor education

There are a few differences between a foster care worker and a service counselor in terms of educational background:

	Foster Care Worker	Service Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Social Work	Psychology
Most common college	Boston University	SUNY at Binghamton

Foster care worker vs service counselor demographics

Here are the differences between foster care workers' and service counselors' demographics:

	Foster Care Worker	Service Counselor
Average age	42	43
Gender ratio	Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9%	Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7%
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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	10%	11%

Differences between foster care worker and service counselor duties and responsibilities

Foster care worker example responsibilities.

Conduct unscheduled regular school visits to attain records of attendance, suspensions, IEP, and treatment plans.
Manage to write progress note, complete FASP's and input information on PROMIS on a timely manner.
Manage caseload of 18 23 children and adolescents in DSS custody due to abuse, neglect and criminal activity.
Manage a caseload of families with children in DSS custody awaiting return home to family of origin base upon progress make.
Lead presentation and training sessions to community and inter-agency groups.
Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.

Show more

Service counselor example responsibilities.

Develop contracting strategy to build capacity and achieve ongoing compliance with Medicare and Medicaid provider network adequacy requirements.
Implement patient financial services department to assist patients and family members to ensure successful patient representation and expeditious benefit recovery.
Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.

Foster care worker vs service counselor skills

Common foster care worker skills

Foster Care, 26%
Social Work, 19%
Child Abuse, 7%
Social Services, 6%
Foster Children, 5%
Community Resources, 4%

Common service counselor skills

Social Work, 16%
Crisis Intervention, 9%
Patients, 7%
Support Services, 6%
Social Services, 6%
Rehabilitation, 6%

Foster Care Worker vs. similar jobs

Foster Care Worker related careers

Foster Care 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