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The differences between licensed social workers and mental health specialists 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 mental health specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a licensed social worker has an average salary of $57,005, which is higher than the $47,321 average annual salary of a mental health specialist.
The top three skills for a licensed social worker include social work, patients and home health. The most important skills for a mental health specialist are patients, social work, and rehabilitation.
| Licensed Social Worker | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $57,005 | $47,321 |
| Hourly rate | $27.41 | $22.75 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 66,130 | 131,449 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| 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 mental health specialist is responsible for evaluating a patient's mental health condition and develop appropriate treatment plans to help the patients cope up with their mental difficulties. Mental health specialists provide counseling to the patients, listening to their situation, and responding with the utmost consideration. They also create regular progress reports and medical charts to monitor ongoing medication, updating treatment plans as needed. A mental health specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills, helping the patients deal with their mental stress and return to a healthy lifestyle.
Licensed social workers and mental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Social Worker | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $57,005 | $47,321 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $78,000 | Between $31,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Favorite Healthcare Staffing | Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a licensed social worker and a mental health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Social Worker | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| 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 mental health specialists' demographics:
| Licensed Social Worker | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9% | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 15% |