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The differences between protective services social workers and licensed social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a protective services social worker, becoming a licensed social worker takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a licensed social worker has an average salary of $57,005, which is higher than the $51,488 average annual salary of a protective services social worker.
The top three skills for a protective services social worker include social work, protective services and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a licensed social worker are social work, patients, and home health.
| Protective Services Social Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $51,488 | $57,005 |
| Hourly rate | $24.75 | $27.41 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 94,975 | 66,130 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
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.
Protective services social workers and licensed social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Services Social Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $51,488 | $57,005 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $63,000 | Between $41,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Washington State University | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a protective services social worker and a licensed social worker in terms of educational background:
| Protective Services Social Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | Boston College | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between protective services social workers' and licensed social workers' demographics:
| Protective Services Social Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.6% Female, 81.4% | Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9% |
| 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, 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 | 10% | 13% |