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The differences between protective service specialists and foster care 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 foster care worker. Additionally, a protective service specialist has an average salary of $50,293, which is higher than the $46,037 average annual salary of a foster care worker.
The top three skills for a protective service specialist include social work, child safety and foster care. The most important skills for a foster care worker are foster care, social work, and child abuse.
| Protective Service Specialist | Foster Care Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $50,293 | $46,037 |
| Hourly rate | $24.18 | $22.13 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 81,211 | 151,625 |
| 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.
A Foster Care Worker helps improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families as well as increases the family's well-being and the academic functioning of children. They counsel families about issues regarding their child's care and develop healthy living situations.
Protective service specialists and foster care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Service Specialist | Foster Care Worker | |
| Average salary | $50,293 | $46,037 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $76,000 | Between $32,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Parsons | Riverview Health |
| Best paying industry | Government | Construction |
There are a few differences between a protective service specialist and a foster care worker in terms of educational background:
| Protective Service Specialist | Foster Care Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | SUNY at Albany | Boston University |
Here are the differences between protective service specialists' and foster care workers' demographics:
| Protective Service Specialist | Foster Care Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% | Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9% |
| 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% |