Mental health worker vs youth worker

The differences between mental health workers and youth workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a mental health worker and a youth worker. Additionally, a mental health worker has an average salary of $41,081, which is higher than the $32,242 average annual salary of a youth worker.

The top three skills for a mental health worker include patients, crisis intervention and social work. The most important skills for a youth worker are direct supervision, CPR, and crisis intervention.

Mental health worker vs youth worker overview

	Mental Health Worker	Youth Worker
Yearly salary	$41,081	$32,242
Hourly rate	$19.75	$15.50
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	144,879	87,360
Job satisfaction	1	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	45	42
Years of experience	4	4

What does a mental health worker do?

A mental health worker is an individual who provides basic care and therapy to patients who are inflicted with mental disabilities or developmental disabilities. Mental health workers assist patients with their daily activities, monitor their conditions, and administer therapeutic care. They may be directly supervised by a registered nurse and can work in facilities such as psychiatric hospitals and residential mental health facilities. They may also help develop treatment plans and strategies with other staff members to best meet patient needs.

What does a youth worker do?

Youth workers specialize in handling and providing support to young individuals with behavioral difficulties. They are primarily responsible for devising recreational projects, handling the budget, producing progress reports, managing intervention programs, and counseling troubled youth while keeping their information confidential. There may be instances where one must also search for opportunities and apply for funding or sponsorship. Furthermore, as a youth worker, it is vital to assess an individual's condition to determine their needs and ensure that they will receive the proper treatment.

Mental health worker vs youth worker salary

Mental health workers and youth workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Mental Health Worker	Youth Worker
Average salary	$41,081	$32,242
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $59,000	Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Freehold, NJ
Highest paying state	California	New Jersey
Best paying company	Pacific Northwest National Laboratory	Salt Lake County
Best paying industry	Professional	Education

Differences between mental health worker and youth worker education

There are a few differences between a mental health worker and a youth worker in terms of educational background:

	Mental Health Worker	Youth Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Psychology	Criminal Justice
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	SUNY at Albany

Mental health worker vs youth worker demographics

Here are the differences between mental health workers' and youth workers' demographics:

	Mental Health Worker	Youth Worker
Average age	45	42
Gender ratio	Male, 34.9% Female, 65.1%	Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4%
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%

Differences between mental health worker and youth worker duties and responsibilities

Mental health worker example responsibilities.

Respond to and assist in behavioral codes working as a team member to successfully manage patient using methods obtain in CPI training
Train in provision of CPI, CPR, food handling, infection control and basic nursing care.
Provide direct care to patients under direction and guidance of professional nursing personnel within a mental illness psychiatric outpatient hospital.
Assist patients in becoming accustom to hospital routine and encourage them to participate in social and recreational activities to promote rehabilitation.
Provide referrals to appropriate multidisciplinary services, including mental health, drug/alcohol rehabilitation services, and medical and physical/occupational therapy services.
Conduct crisis stabilization via sanction CPI techniques with staff assistance.

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Youth worker example responsibilities.

Assist in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent compliance.
Certify in CPR, and basic first aid.
Demonstrate patience, compassion, and understanding while helping with homework.
Stay current with require safety certifications including CPR, first aid, and fire protection.
Conduct research, create newsletters and PowerPoint presentations.
Provide supervision and supportive rehabilitation for detain youths in a maximum security prison.

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Mental health worker vs youth worker skills

Common mental health worker skills

Patients, 20%
Crisis Intervention, 6%
Social Work, 6%
CPR, 5%
Vital Signs, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%

Common youth worker skills

Direct Supervision, 12%
CPR, 11%
Crisis Intervention, 10%
at-Risk Youth, 8%
Youth Development, 6%
Role Model, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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