Navigator vs case management specialist

The differences between navigators and case management specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a case management specialist has an average salary of $41,553, which is higher than the $39,719 average annual salary of a navigator.

The top three skills for a navigator include patients, social work and customer service. The most important skills for a case management specialist are patients, social work, and mental health.

Navigator vs case management specialist overview

	Navigator	Case Management Specialist
Yearly salary	$39,719	$41,553
Hourly rate	$19.10	$19.98
Growth rate	12%	12%
Number of jobs	4,866	153,985
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	44	43
Years of experience	-	12

What does a navigator do?

Navigators are responsible for a ship or aircraft's navigation requiring positional awareness. Their duties include mapping out for the journey, avoiding any hazards during travel, and advising the captain or commander on estimated time en route to the destination. Navigators are involved in maintaining the ship or aircraft's communication, nautical publications and charts, navigational equipment, and meteorological device. In the air force world, modern navigators are tasked with copilot duties and employing weapons systems.

What does a case management specialist do?

In healthcare facilities, a case management specialist is in charge of ensuring that patients get quality service. Their responsibilities often include handling admission and discharge procedures, preparing and processing documents, gathering and organizing patient information, and developing strategies to optimize case management operations. There are also instances where they must address patient concerns and issues, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a case management specialist, it is essential to function while adhering to the facility's policies and regulations.

Navigator vs case management specialist salary

Navigators and case management specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Navigator	Case Management Specialist
Average salary	$39,719	$41,553
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $53,000	Between $27,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	Rochester, NY	San Mateo, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Hawaii
Best paying company	Adobe	McKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Technology

Differences between navigator and case management specialist education

There are a few differences between a navigator and a case management specialist in terms of educational background:

	Navigator	Case Management Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Business	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY at Binghamton

Navigator vs case management specialist demographics

Here are the differences between navigators' and case management specialists' demographics:

	Navigator	Case Management Specialist
Average age	44	43
Gender ratio	Male, 38.7% Female, 61.3%	Male, 19.6% Female, 80.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 5.5% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%
LGBT Percentage	5%	11%

Differences between navigator and case management specialist duties and responsibilities

Navigator example responsibilities.

Utilize EMR data to identify patients with low back pain and determine patient eligibility.
Provide tours and information to families considering rehabilitation at PAM.
Provide assessment, counseling and case management to patients receiving abnormal breast imaging and malignant biopsy results.
Advise patients on appropriate protocols for maintaining good health habits and assist patients in receiving update medication adherence.
Provide rehabilitation, employment and training resources for eligible participants to encourage continuing participation in the labor force.
Staff daily referrals with hospital staff to discuss medical conditions and reviewing medical charts for need Medicaid and disability applications.

Case management specialist example responsibilities.

Manage caseload by providing care coordination to individuals with a primary intellectual/developmental disability diagnosis all of whom receive community-base waiver services.
Provide case management to give emergency financial assistance to veterans and their families during a financial crisis.
Complete admission, stay and discharge reviews utilizing Interqual criteria to evaluate medical necessity as indicated by corporate standards.
Fax documents to skil nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities.
Perform psycho-social management, intervention, advocacy, and referral services for patients and significant others.
Supervise in educating patients and direct care staff about self-management of chronic illness tailoring instructions to patient's individual circumstances.

Navigator vs case management specialist skills

Common navigator skills

Patients, 19%
Social Work, 13%
Customer Service, 9%
Patient Care, 8%
Rehabilitation, 5%
Community Resources, 5%

Common case management specialist skills

Patients, 19%
Social Work, 15%
Mental Health, 8%
Community Resources, 4%
Patient Care, 4%
Crisis Intervention, 4%

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Navigator vs Case Management Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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