Post job

Nursing home social worker vs licensed social worker

The differences between nursing home social workers and licensed 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 nursing home social worker and a licensed social worker. Additionally, a licensed social worker has an average salary of $57,005, which is higher than the $51,130 average annual salary of a nursing home social worker.

The top three skills for a nursing home social worker include social work, nursing home and care plan. The most important skills for a licensed social worker are social work, patients, and home health.

Nursing home social worker vs licensed social worker overview

Nursing Home Social WorkerLicensed Social Worker
Yearly salary$51,130$57,005
Hourly rate$24.58$27.41
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs121,83366,130
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

What does a nursing home social worker do?

A Nursing Home Social Worker works closely with the residents of a nursing home to identify their various needs and develop adequate assistance strategies. Their responsibilities include: treating the emotional, behavioral conditions and problems, assessing new clients to come up with a treatment plan that addresses determined needs, offer adjustment support for those that lack family support, facilitating group activities that encourage interaction with other residents, and conducting administrative tasks that are crucial to the day to day operations of a nursing facility.

What does a licensed social worker do?

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.

Nursing home social worker vs licensed social worker salary

Nursing home social workers and licensed social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nursing Home Social WorkerLicensed Social Worker
Average salary$51,130$57,005
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $66,000Between $41,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City-Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between nursing home social worker and licensed social worker education

There are a few differences between a nursing home social worker and a licensed social worker in terms of educational background:

Nursing Home Social WorkerLicensed Social Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorSocial WorkSocial Work
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Nursing home social worker vs licensed social worker demographics

Here are the differences between nursing home social workers' and licensed social workers' demographics:

Nursing Home Social WorkerLicensed Social Worker
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 16.9% Female, 83.1%Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage13%13%

Differences between nursing home social worker and licensed social worker duties and responsibilities

Nursing home social worker example responsibilities.

  • Assist resident and families with Medicaid applications, as well as, assist with Medicare.
  • Assist residents with Medicaid applications and coordinate related appointments.
  • Counsele veterans and Medi-Cal clients individually to provide behavioral interventions in order to address their anxiety, depression and anger.
  • Conduct unannounce alternating monthly visits with CNH and monthly visits with RCH.

Licensed social worker example responsibilities.

  • Foster self-determination of patients by evaluating for vocational rehabilitation that includes employment, volunteering, or education opportunities.
  • Evaluate and provide psychotherapy services to patients diagnose with serious and persistent mental illness and/or chemical dependency within an inpatient setting.
  • Provide clinical supervision to MSW students.
  • Supervise and train MSW students during their final concentration practicum.
  • Plan and facilitate trainings that address trauma exposure and the impact of compassion fatigue on administrative staff.
  • Provide medically relate social services to residents in a sub-acute, short term rehabilitation unit.
  • Show more

Nursing home social worker vs licensed social worker skills

Common nursing home social worker skills
  • Social Work, 50%
  • Nursing Home, 27%
  • Care Plan, 8%
  • MDS, 7%
  • Discharge Planning, 3%
  • Home Health, 2%
Common licensed social worker skills
  • Social Work, 29%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Home Health, 11%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Substance Abuse, 5%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%

Browse community and social services jobs