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The differences between protective services social workers and child welfare specialists 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 services social worker and a child welfare specialist. Additionally, a protective services social worker has an average salary of $51,488, which is higher than the $50,377 average annual salary of a child welfare specialist.
The top three skills for a protective services social worker include social work, protective services and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a child welfare specialist are social work, foster care, and child safety.
| Protective Services Social Worker | Child Welfare Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,488 | $50,377 |
| Hourly rate | $24.75 | $24.22 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 94,975 | 76,508 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Protective Services Social Worker provides counseling, rehabilitation, or placement services for children and adults who are disabled. They also help individuals or families deal with domestic violence, traumatic events, or terminal illnesses.
Child welfare specialists are professionals who are responsible for protecting children and youngsters from harm by visiting their homes and other residential facilities to investigate their living conditions. These specialists are required to determine the suitability of the homes and resources of foster and adoptive parents for child placement. They must serve as child advocates by attending court proceedings to provide inclusive court proceedings. Child welfare specialists must also work closely with local enforcement to ensure the safety of children.
Protective services social workers and child welfare specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Services Social Worker | Child Welfare Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,488 | $50,377 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $63,000 | Between $35,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Cherry Hill, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Washington State University | University of California |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between a protective services social worker and a child welfare specialist in terms of educational background:
| Protective Services Social Worker | Child Welfare Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | Boston College | SUNY at Albany |
Here are the differences between protective services social workers' and child welfare specialists' demographics:
| Protective Services Social Worker | Child Welfare Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.6% Female, 81.4% | Male, 20.2% Female, 79.8% |
| 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% |