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The differences between protective services social workers and protective service 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 protective service specialist. Additionally, a protective services social worker has an average salary of $51,488, which is higher than the $50,293 average annual salary of a protective service 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 protective service specialist are social work, child safety, and foster care.
| Protective Services Social Worker | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,488 | $50,293 |
| Hourly rate | $24.75 | $24.18 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 94,975 | 81,211 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
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.
Protective services social workers and protective service specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Services Social Worker | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,488 | $50,293 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $63,000 | Between $32,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Washington State University | Parsons |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Government |
There are a few differences between a protective services social worker and a protective service specialist in terms of educational background:
| Protective Services Social Worker | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 protective service specialists' demographics:
| Protective Services Social Worker | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.6% Female, 81.4% | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% |
| 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% |