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The differences between protective service specialists and case 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 protective service specialist and a case worker. Additionally, a protective service specialist has an average salary of $50,293, which is higher than the $41,459 average annual salary of a case worker.
The top three skills for a protective service specialist include social work, child safety and foster care. The most important skills for a case worker are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.
| Protective Service Specialist | Case Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $50,293 | $41,459 |
| Hourly rate | $24.18 | $19.93 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 81,211 | 107,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Protective Service Specialists provide information to individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency through child support services and employment opportunities. Most of these specialists recommend family services include parenting education, drug counseling, and financial base services. They review applicant documentation to determine eligibility for federal and state aid programs, including food stamps, Medicaid, and emergency assistance. Also, protective service specialists assist families with the resources that can help resolve the issues that risk the children's placement. They may even provide staff supervision about referrals obtained to ensure that they meet the criteria for services and intervention.
Caseworkers are social workers who watch over the welfare of underprivileged individuals and at-risk families by counseling and providing them with assistance. Usually employed under the government or a local non-profit organization, a caseworker must conduct a thorough interview and house visits to determine the needs of the family. They then refer them to any programs or agencies that can give them the specific care and help needed. Furthermore, it is crucial to identify neglect and abuse signs, reporting them to the authorities right away.
Protective service specialists and case workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Service Specialist | Case Worker | |
| Average salary | $50,293 | $41,459 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $76,000 | Between $30,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Parsons | Appalachian Regional Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a protective service specialist and a case worker in terms of educational background:
| Protective Service Specialist | Case Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Albany | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between protective service specialists' and case workers' demographics:
| Protective Service Specialist | Case Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 10% | 10% |