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The differences between school 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 school 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 $54,856 average annual salary of a school social worker.
The top three skills for a school social worker include social work, social emotional and IEP. The most important skills for a licensed social worker are social work, patients, and home health.
| School Social Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $54,856 | $57,005 |
| Hourly rate | $26.37 | $27.41 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 122,376 | 66,130 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
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.
School social workers and licensed social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Social Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $54,856 | $57,005 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $73,000 | Between $41,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Boston Public Schools | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Education | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a school social worker and a licensed social worker in terms of educational background:
| School Social Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | Boston College | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between school social workers' and licensed social workers' demographics:
| School Social Worker | Licensed Social Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% | 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% |