Protective services social worker vs social worker

The differences between protective services social workers and 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 social worker takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a protective services social worker has an average salary of $51,488, which is higher than the $50,102 average annual salary of a 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 social worker are social work, patients, and patient care.

Protective services social worker vs social worker overview

	Protective Services Social Worker	Social Worker
Yearly salary	$51,488	$50,102
Hourly rate	$24.75	$24.09
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	94,975	77,340
Job satisfaction	-	4.5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	42	45
Years of experience	4	2

What does a protective services social worker do?

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.

What does a social worker do?

Social workers help their clients get through problems that they may be facing. Social workers help identify individuals or groups of people, usually families, who may need assistance, generally through a set of pre-determined criteria. They then determine the best ways to help their clients by interviewing them, getting to know them, and understanding the context of their lives. They create plans that will help their clients become better, such as integrating into a new environment, assisting them in their needs, or even rescuing them from their current place. Social workers have good interpersonal skills and communication skills.

Protective services social worker vs social worker salary

Protective services social workers and social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Protective Services Social Worker	Social Worker
Average salary	$51,488	$50,102
Salary range	Between $41,000 And $63,000	Between $37,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	New Brunswick, NJ	Portland, OR
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Oregon
Best paying company	Washington State University	Health Advocates
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Government

Differences between protective services social worker and social worker education

There are a few differences between a protective services social worker and a social worker in terms of educational background:

	Protective Services Social Worker	Social Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Social Work	Social Work
Most common college	Boston College	University of Pennsylvania

Protective services social worker vs social worker demographics

Here are the differences between protective services social workers' and social workers' demographics:

	Protective Services Social Worker	Social Worker
Average age	42	45
Gender ratio	Male, 18.6% Female, 81.4%	Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5%
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, 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%

Differences between protective services social worker and social worker duties and responsibilities

Protective services social worker example responsibilities.

Manage a caseload TANF clients, assess clients eligibility to receive benefits, assist with placement of clients in various programs.
Coordinate admissions of active duty service members and veterans to the inpatient rehabilitation/medical unit after suffering a new spinal cord injury.
Perform related adoptions and supervisory visits for state adoptions.

Social worker example responsibilities.

Assist clients in achieving treatment goals such as anger, ADHD, grief, social skills, and manners.
Lead and co-le CBT and DBT skills-base groups with participants, as well as relapse prevention, mindfulness and process groups.
Support patient questions and issues regarding Medicare ESRD entitlement and Medicaid and assist in the completion of the appropriate documentation.
Coordinate IPU discharge planning patients to SNF, ALF, PCH or in-home care with necessary support for care.
Facilitate relationships with AKF and other patient assistance programs, VA, Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance providers.
Complete Medicaid and Medicare applications as needed.

Protective services social worker vs social worker skills

Common protective services social worker skills

Social Work, 15%
Protective Services, 7%
Crisis Intervention, 7%
Community Resources, 6%
Social Services, 6%
Foster Care, 5%

Common social worker skills

Social Work, 30%
Patients, 15%
Patient Care, 5%
MSW, 4%
Discharge Planning, 4%
Home Health, 4%

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Protective Services Social Worker
Protective Services Social Worker vs Social Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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