Post job

Hospice social worker vs school social worker

The differences between hospice social workers and school social 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 school social worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, which is higher than the $52,859 average annual salary of a hospice social worker.

The top three skills for a hospice social worker include social work, patients and home health. The most important skills for a school social worker are social work, social emotional, and IEP.

Hospice social worker vs school social worker overview

Hospice Social WorkerSchool Social Worker
Yearly salary$52,859$54,856
Hourly rate$25.41$26.37
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs110,787122,376
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 50%Master's Degree, 51%
Average age4542
Years of experience24

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 school social worker do?

A school social worker specializes in counseling students, families, and faculty members. They are responsible for coordinating with the school to develop programs that prioritize the students' emotional and psychological well-being, respond to any issues and concerns, build rapport to identify their needs, and communicate with support services to provide necessary assistance to any students or families. There are also instances when a school social worker must assist teachers in handling students with behavioral issues, investigating the underlying reasons. Moreover, it is crucial to identify any signs of neglect or abuse, conducting interventive measures right away.

Hospice social worker vs school social worker salary

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

Hospice Social WorkerSchool Social Worker
Average salary$52,859$54,856
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $67,000Between $40,000 And $73,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Boston Public Schools
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between hospice social worker and school social worker education

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

Hospice Social WorkerSchool Social Worker
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 50%Master's Degree, 51%
Most common majorSocial WorkSocial Work
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaBoston College

Hospice social worker vs school social worker demographics

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

Hospice Social WorkerSchool Social Worker
Average age4542
Gender ratioMale, 13.8% Female, 86.2%Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage13%10%

Differences between hospice social worker and school social 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.
  • Show more

School social worker example responsibilities.

  • Case manage in-district and out-of-district students with emotional disabilities, autism, other health impair and physical disabilities.
  • Provide individual, group and family therapy to patients suffering from substance abuse/dependence.
  • Prepare APS reports as needed and present them to the state.
  • Prepare IEP's, set goals, and objectives consistent with CSE standards.
  • Train college interns, new employees, and volunteers on APS policies and procedures.
  • Design school-wide and individual PBIS programs and incentives; as well as compiled data relate to PBIS.
  • Show more

Hospice social worker vs school social worker skills

Common hospice social worker skills
  • Social Work, 29%
  • Patients, 19%
  • Home Health, 11%
  • MSW, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%
Common school social worker skills
  • Social Work, 26%
  • Social Emotional, 6%
  • IEP, 6%
  • Community Resources, 5%
  • Professional Development, 5%
  • Behavioral Issues, 4%

Browse community and social services jobs