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The differences between school social workers and mental health therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a school social worker and a mental health therapist. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, which is higher than the $50,259 average annual salary of a mental health therapist.
The top three skills for a school social worker include social work, social emotional and IEP. The most important skills for a mental health therapist are social work, patients, and mental health.
| School Social Worker | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,856 | $50,259 |
| Hourly rate | $26.37 | $24.16 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 122,376 | 114,386 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 51% | Master's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 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.
The job of mental health therapists is to guide individuals, groups, couples, and families with problems that are impacting their well-being and mental health. Their duties and responsibilities include encouraging clients to talk about their experiences, examining issues that may affect mental health such as substance abuse and bullying, and assisting clients in defining their goals and action plans. Mental health therapists are also responsible for developing therapeutic processes, referring clients to other services or resources like psychologists, and helping them adjust to life changes.
School social workers and mental health therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Social Worker | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Average salary | $54,856 | $50,259 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $73,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Boston Public Schools | Tykes And Teens |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a school social worker and a mental health therapist in terms of educational background:
| School Social Worker | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 51% | Master's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | Boston College | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between school social workers' and mental health therapists' demographics:
| School Social Worker | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% | Male, 23.3% Female, 76.7% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 15% |