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The differences between school social workers and elementary school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, which is higher than the $34,984 average annual salary of an elementary school counselor.
The top three skills for a school social worker include social work, social emotional and IEP. The most important skills for an elementary school counselor are social work, professional development, and crisis intervention.
| School Social Worker | Elementary School Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $54,856 | $34,984 |
| Hourly rate | $26.37 | $16.82 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 122,376 | 92,184 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
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.
An elementary school counselor is primarily in charge of providing support and counseling to students as they navigate through their academic, social, and personal lives. Their responsibilities typically revolve around developing and executing programs for students' welfare, conducting student evaluations and interviews, mediating on various issues, and assisting students in preparing and processing scholarship applications. Furthermore, there are instances when an elementary school counselor must refer students and parents to social services and conduct interventions when necessary. Should there be any signs of abuse or neglect, It is essential to report to the authorities right away.
School social workers and elementary school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Social Worker | Elementary School Counselor | |
| Average salary | $54,856 | $34,984 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $73,000 | Between $18,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Daly City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Boston Public Schools | Success Academy Charter Schools |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a school social worker and an elementary school counselor in terms of educational background:
| School Social Worker | Elementary School Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | Boston College | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between school social workers' and elementary school counselors' demographics:
| School Social Worker | Elementary School Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% | Male, 25.0% Female, 75.0% |
| 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, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 11% |