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The differences between school social workers and school psychologists 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 school psychologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a school psychologist has an average salary of $78,431, 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 school psychologist are professional development, mental health, and psychological services.
| School Social Worker | School Psychologist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,856 | $78,431 |
| Hourly rate | $26.37 | $37.71 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 122,376 | 25,457 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| 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.
School psychologists are knowledgeable professionals whose responsibilities include identifying, addressing, and overcoming the educational and behavioral needs of school-aged children. They generally work in schools and focus their observations on children and youth who often face issues related to education, social relationships, decision-making, as well as managing emotions. They help families, counselors, and members of the community understand and solve these issues the children may encounter. Additionally, they provide comprehensive psychological services to help students achieve academic, behavioral, social, and emotional success.
School social workers and school psychologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Social Worker | School Psychologist | |
| Average salary | $54,856 | $78,431 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $73,000 | Between $55,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Boston Public Schools | CORA Services |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a school social worker and a school psychologist in terms of educational background:
| School Social Worker | School Psychologist | |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | Boston College | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between school social workers' and school psychologists' demographics:
| School Social Worker | School Psychologist | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |