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The differences between long term care social workers and psychiatric 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 long term care social worker and a psychiatric social worker. Additionally, a psychiatric social worker has an average salary of $59,144, which is higher than the $48,296 average annual salary of a long term care social worker.
The top three skills for a long term care social worker include patient care, nursing home and SNF. The most important skills for a psychiatric social worker are social work, patients, and crisis intervention.
| Long Term Care Social Worker | Psychiatric Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $48,296 | $59,144 |
| Hourly rate | $23.22 | $28.43 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 103,725 | 57,284 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Long-term care social workers manage the emotional, physical, and mental needs of a person. They are the one who provides and gives aid in order for the person in need to have access to services and health care. This career has a vital role in ensuring that proper care is given in partnership with other professions such as doctors and health workers. They are often seen in a nursing facility, child care, mental institutions, as well as rehabilitation centers.
A psychiatric social worker specializes in providing mental health treatments and other services to patients and their families, referring them to other agencies and programs as needed. They conduct assessments and interviews to determine the condition of patients, devise specific treatment and care plans, update and maintain patient records, conduct regular counseling sessions, and monitor the progress of every patient to ensure their health and welfare. They may also provide interventions, train junior psychiatric social workers, and conduct reviews and evaluations on existing care plans.
Long term care social workers and psychiatric social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Long Term Care Social Worker | Psychiatric Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $48,296 | $59,144 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $43,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Highmark |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a long term care social worker and a psychiatric social worker in terms of educational background:
| Long Term Care Social Worker | Psychiatric Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Social Work |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between long term care social workers' and psychiatric social workers' demographics:
| Long Term Care Social Worker | Psychiatric Social Worker | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.8% Female, 70.2% | Male, 24.8% Female, 75.2% |
| 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% |