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The differences between protective services social workers and school social 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 services social worker and a school social worker. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, 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 school social worker are social work, social emotional, and IEP.
| Protective Services Social Worker | School Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $51,488 | $54,856 |
| Hourly rate | $24.75 | $26.37 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 94,975 | 122,376 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| 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.
A school social worker specializes in counseling students, families, and faculty members. They are responsible for coordinating with the school to develop programs that prioritize the students' emotional and psychological well-being, respond to any issues and concerns, build rapport to identify their needs, and communicate with support services to provide necessary assistance to any students or families. There are also instances when a school social worker must assist teachers in handling students with behavioral issues, investigating the underlying reasons. Moreover, it is crucial to identify any signs of neglect or abuse, conducting interventive measures right away.
Protective services social workers and school social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Services Social Worker | School Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $51,488 | $54,856 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $63,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Washington State University | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Education |
There are a few differences between a protective services social worker and a school social worker in terms of educational background:
| Protective Services Social Worker | School Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | Boston College | Boston College |
Here are the differences between protective services social workers' and school social workers' demographics:
| Protective Services Social Worker | School Social Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.6% Female, 81.4% | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% |
| 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% |