Hospice social worker vs foster care worker

The differences between hospice social workers and foster care workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a hospice social worker, becoming a foster care worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a hospice social worker has an average salary of $52,859, which is higher than the $46,037 average annual salary of a foster care worker.

The top three skills for a hospice social worker include social work, patients and home health. The most important skills for a foster care worker are foster care, social work, and child abuse.

Hospice social worker vs foster care worker overview

	Hospice Social Worker	Foster Care Worker
Yearly salary	$52,859	$46,037
Hourly rate	$25.41	$22.13
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	110,787	151,625
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	45	42
Years of experience	2	4

What does a hospice social worker do?

A hospice social worker is primarily in charge of providing emotional support and guidance to terminally-ill patients and their families, aiming to give them comfort and assistance in various procedures. Their responsibilities include identifying the needs of patients and their families through visitations or appointments, coordinating with nurses and physicians, and serving as a patient advocate by providing them with spiritual and emotional comfort. Furthermore, as a hospice social worker, it is essential to assist families with the bereavement processes, referring them to other programs as necessary.

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.

Hospice social worker vs foster care worker salary

Hospice social workers and foster care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Hospice Social Worker	Foster Care Worker
Average salary	$52,859	$46,037
Salary range	Between $41,000 And $67,000	Between $32,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	-	Baltimore, MD
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	Riverview Health
Best paying industry	-	Construction

Differences between hospice social worker and foster care worker education

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

	Hospice Social Worker	Foster Care Worker
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Social Work	Social Work
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Boston University

Hospice social worker vs foster care worker demographics

Here are the differences between hospice social workers' and foster care workers' demographics:

	Hospice Social Worker	Foster Care Worker
Average age	45	42
Gender ratio	Male, 13.8% Female, 86.2%	Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9%
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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	13%	10%

Differences between hospice social worker and foster care worker duties and responsibilities

Hospice social worker example responsibilities.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to provide necessary referrals and counseling to achieve establish patient goals.
Provide support, education and compassion to patients and family members.
Assist patients and families with obtaining necessary insurances such as Medicaid, etc.
Provide advocacy and support services to terminally ill patients, families and/or significant others to maximize benefits and limit out-of-pocket expenses.
Work as lead MSW on all pediatric hospice cases.
Work with other members of the IDT to track and document changes to the patient's status, coping, etc.

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.

Hospice social worker vs foster care worker skills

Common hospice social worker skills

Social Work, 29%
Patients, 19%
Home Health, 11%
MSW, 5%
Patient Care, 4%
Crisis Intervention, 4%

Common foster care worker skills

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

Hospice Social Worker vs. similar jobs

Hospice Social Worker related careers

Hospice Social Worker related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Community and Social Services Industry
Hospice Social Worker
Hospice Social Worker vs Foster Care Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs