Hospital social worker vs licensed social worker

The differences between hospital social workers and licensed social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a hospital social worker and a licensed social worker. Additionally, a licensed social worker has an average salary of $57,005, which is higher than the $54,774 average annual salary of a hospital social worker.

The top three skills for a hospital social worker include social work, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a licensed social worker are social work, patients, and home health.

Hospital social worker vs licensed social worker overview

	Hospital Social Worker	Licensed Social Worker
Yearly salary	$54,774	$57,005
Hourly rate	$26.33	$27.41
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	105,520	66,130
Job satisfaction	-	2
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a hospital social worker do?

The job of a hospital social worker is one that constantly puts them in the limelight. They perform duties to help patients as they navigate the process of being sick and hospitalized. They assist patients in dealing with the effects of hospitalization. They function as the middleman between patients and the hospital staff. They must also connect patients to much-needed services and assist with coordinating insurance reimbursements.

What does a licensed social worker do?

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.

Hospital social worker vs licensed social worker salary

Hospital social workers and licensed social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Hospital Social Worker	Licensed Social Worker
Average salary	$54,774	$57,005
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $77,000	Between $41,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	Medical Billing	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between hospital social worker and licensed social worker education

There are a few differences between a hospital social worker and a licensed social worker in terms of educational background:

	Hospital Social Worker	Licensed Social Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Social Work	Social Work
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Hospital social worker vs licensed social worker demographics

Here are the differences between hospital social workers' and licensed social workers' demographics:

	Hospital Social Worker	Licensed Social Worker
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%	Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9%
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, 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	13%	13%

Differences between hospital social worker and licensed social worker duties and responsibilities

Hospital social worker example responsibilities.

Screen, identify, diagnose using DSM nomenclature, treat and manage mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
Provide individual therapy, case management, and insurance coverage reviews for individuals undergoing short-term rehabilitation.
Provide orientation, support and information to patients and their families to facilitate active involvement in the rehabilitation environment.
Perform assessments/social history upon admission to better understand the patient's needs and personal circumstances as they relate to their rehabilitation.
Coordinate care with community providers for follow up if patient are discharged, prepare documentation for admission to inpatient psychiatry unit.
Analyze psychological / psycho-social evaluations, IEP's, and medical histories within a referral packet to determine eligibility.

Licensed social worker example responsibilities.

Foster self-determination of patients by evaluating for vocational rehabilitation that includes employment, volunteering, or education opportunities.
Evaluate and provide psychotherapy services to patients diagnose with serious and persistent mental illness and/or chemical dependency within an inpatient setting.
Provide clinical supervision to MSW students.
Supervise and train MSW students during their final concentration practicum.
Plan and facilitate trainings that address trauma exposure and the impact of compassion fatigue on administrative staff.
Provide medically relate social services to residents in a sub-acute, short term rehabilitation unit.

Hospital social worker vs licensed social worker skills

Common hospital social worker skills

Social Work, 28%
Patients, 21%
Patient Care, 7%
MSW, 6%
Behavioral Health, 5%
Acute Care, 4%

Common licensed social worker skills

Social Work, 29%
Patients, 13%
Home Health, 11%
Rehabilitation, 5%
Substance Abuse, 5%
Crisis Intervention, 4%

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Community and Social Services Industry
Hospital Social Worker
Hospital Social Worker vs Licensed Social Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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