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Senior clinician vs clinical social worker

The differences between senior clinicians and clinical 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 senior clinician, becoming a clinical social worker takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a clinical social worker has an average salary of $63,056, which is higher than the $57,908 average annual salary of a senior clinician.

The top three skills for a senior clinician include social work, patients and substance abuse. The most important skills for a clinical social worker are social work, patients, and behavioral health.

Senior clinician vs clinical social worker overview

Senior ClinicianClinical Social Worker
Yearly salary$57,908$63,056
Hourly rate$27.84$30.32
Growth rate14%9%
Number of jobs32,129124,816
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 46%Master's Degree, 54%
Average age4145
Years of experience42

Senior clinician vs clinical social worker salary

Senior clinicians and clinical social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior ClinicianClinical Social Worker
Average salary$57,908$63,056
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $74,000Between $42,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CityScranton, PASanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying statePennsylvaniaCalifornia
Best paying companyWellpathTucson Electric Power
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between senior clinician and clinical social worker education

There are a few differences between a senior clinician and a clinical social worker in terms of educational background:

Senior ClinicianClinical Social Worker
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 46%Master's Degree, 54%
Most common majorSocial WorkSocial Work
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior clinician vs clinical social worker demographics

Here are the differences between senior clinicians' and clinical social workers' demographics:

Senior ClinicianClinical Social Worker
Average age4145
Gender ratioMale, 32.5% Female, 67.5%Male, 21.7% Female, 78.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%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 Percentage6%13%

Differences between senior clinician and clinical social worker duties and responsibilities

Senior clinician example responsibilities.

  • Utilize strengths base approach as well as DBT and CBT techniques.
  • Develop rehabilitation programs for assign offenders or inmates, establishing rules of conduct, goals, and objectives.
  • Assist in providing parenting skills training, individual skill building, individual and family rehabilitation, and case management.
  • Facilitate DBT groups and offer training and support to clinicians around understanding the concepts and principles of this treatment approach.
  • Assess patients assign and evaluate their needs to assure for a successful customize recovery.
  • Provide education to patients and families, health professionals and lay community through professional presentations.
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Clinical social worker example responsibilities.

  • Understand manage care, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
  • Screen, identify, diagnose using DSM nomenclature, treat and manage mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
  • Provide clinical services to patients in rehabilitation and oncology including assessment, crisis intervention, grief therapy, and discharge planning.
  • Provide individual, group, family therapy, team coordination, discharge planning, utilization review and MSW student supervision.
  • Participate in weekly interdisciplinary team meetings to determine Medicare length of skil nursing stay.
  • Facilitate therapy, symptom management, and rehabilitation groups for mental health clients in partial hospitalization setting.
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Senior clinician vs clinical social worker skills

Common senior clinician skills
  • Social Work, 30%
  • Patients, 11%
  • Substance Abuse, 6%
  • Group Therapy Sessions, 5%
  • Clinical Services, 4%
  • Mental Health, 4%
Common clinical social worker skills
  • Social Work, 28%
  • Patients, 17%
  • Behavioral Health, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Community Resources, 4%
  • MSW, 3%

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