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The differences between licensed social workers and family counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a licensed social worker, becoming a family counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a licensed social worker has an average salary of $57,005, which is higher than the $41,510 average annual salary of a family counselor.
The top three skills for a licensed social worker include social work, patients and home health. The most important skills for a family counselor are social work, community resources, and POC.
| Licensed Social Worker | Family Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $57,005 | $41,510 |
| Hourly rate | $27.41 | $19.96 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 66,130 | 93,253 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
A Family Counselor treats married couples or family members in order to help them overcome mental or emotional problems. They provide effective treatment measures to help the family members resolve their issues.
Licensed social workers and family counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Social Worker | Family Counselor | |
| Average salary | $57,005 | $41,510 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $78,000 | Between $27,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Favorite Healthcare Staffing | Shirley Ryan AbilityLab |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Professional |
There are a few differences between a licensed social worker and a family counselor in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Social Worker | Family Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between licensed social workers' and family counselors' demographics:
| Licensed Social Worker | Family Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9% | Male, 26.3% Female, 73.7% |
| 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, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 6% |