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The differences between intervention specialists and school social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an intervention specialist and a school social worker. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, which is higher than the $50,180 average annual salary of an intervention specialist.
The top three skills for an intervention specialist include mental health, social work and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a school social worker are social work, social emotional, and IEP.
| Intervention Specialist | School Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $50,180 | $54,856 |
| Hourly rate | $24.12 | $26.37 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 69,156 | 122,376 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An intervention specialist is responsible for assisting children with special education and social adjustment needs in schools and other educational settings. You will be responsible for designing, executing, and assessing programs based on different factors, including gender, cultural background, and age. Other tasks that you will likely perform include working closely with teachers to discuss the subject matter with students, ensuring children and occupied and safe, and maintaining records of children's performance and lesson plans. An intervention specialist is also responsible for adhering to individualized education programs.
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.
Intervention specialists and school social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Intervention Specialist | School Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $50,180 | $54,856 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $70,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Alameda, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Birch | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between an intervention specialist and a school social worker in terms of educational background:
| Intervention Specialist | School Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Boston College |
Here are the differences between intervention specialists' and school social workers' demographics:
| Intervention Specialist | School Social Worker | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6% | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% 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 | 15% | 10% |