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The differences between protective service specialists and youth 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 youth worker. Additionally, a protective service specialist has an average salary of $50,293, which is higher than the $32,242 average annual salary of a youth worker.
The top three skills for a protective service specialist include social work, child safety and foster care. The most important skills for a youth worker are direct supervision, CPR, and crisis intervention.
| Protective Service Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $50,293 | $32,242 |
| Hourly rate | $24.18 | $15.50 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 81,211 | 87,360 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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.
Youth workers specialize in handling and providing support to young individuals with behavioral difficulties. They are primarily responsible for devising recreational projects, handling the budget, producing progress reports, managing intervention programs, and counseling troubled youth while keeping their information confidential. There may be instances where one must also search for opportunities and apply for funding or sponsorship. Furthermore, as a youth worker, it is vital to assess an individual's condition to determine their needs and ensure that they will receive the proper treatment.
Protective service specialists and youth workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Service Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Average salary | $50,293 | $32,242 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $76,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Freehold, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Parsons | Salt Lake County |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a protective service specialist and a youth worker in terms of educational background:
| Protective Service Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | SUNY at Albany | SUNY at Albany |
Here are the differences between protective service specialists' and youth workers' demographics:
| Protective Service Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% |
| 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% |