Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between practitioners 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 practitioner and a licensed social worker. Additionally, a practitioner has an average salary of $84,058, which is higher than the $57,005 average annual salary of a licensed social worker.
The top three skills for a practitioner include patients, patient care and social work. The most important skills for a licensed social worker are social work, patients, and home health.
| Practitioner | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $84,058 | $57,005 |
| Hourly rate | $40.41 | $27.41 |
| Growth rate | 40% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 42,062 | 66,130 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The duties of a practitioner depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the medical field, a practitioner is a doctor who provides medical services to patients according to their health issues or concerns, primarily by diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries. Their responsibilities include performing examinations and assessments, providing consultations and advice, prescribing medication, and referring patients to specialists when necessary. They must also maintain an active communication line with nurses and technicians for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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.
Practitioners and licensed social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Practitioner | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $84,058 | $57,005 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $138,000 | Between $41,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Morgan Stanley | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a practitioner and a licensed social worker in terms of educational background:
| Practitioner | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between practitioners' and licensed social workers' demographics:
| Practitioner | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2% | Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 77.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 12% | 13% |