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Senior social worker vs student worker

The differences between senior social workers and student workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior social worker and a student worker. Additionally, a senior social worker has an average salary of $55,254, which is higher than the $25,735 average annual salary of a student worker.

The top three skills for a senior social worker include social work, patients and veterans. The most important skills for a student worker are customer service, front desk, and twitter.

Senior social worker vs student worker overview

Senior Social WorkerStudent Worker
Yearly salary$55,254$25,735
Hourly rate$26.56$12.37
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs103,74082,353
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a senior social worker do?

A senior social worker is in charge of overseeing the support services conducted in a community or a particular area. Their responsibilities often revolve around coordinating different social workers, handling issues or concerns, managing schedules, and performing support tasks for other staff when necessary. They also perform welfare checks on families, provide referrals to other support agencies, conduct interviews and counseling, and identify any signs of abuse or neglect. Furthermore, as a senior social worker, it is essential to lead and mentor junior social workers, all while adhering to the agency's policies and regulations.

What does a student worker do?

Student workers are students who are employed while also enrolled at the university. They usually work in a department or college where they handle different tasks. Most of the time, student workers are assigned to do administrative activities. Their tasks include sorting mail, sending outgoing mail, manning telephone lines, filing documents, updating records, liaising with other departments, and documenting meetings, among others. Student-workers may also be assigned to handle or assist in university-wide events and activities. They are expected to be technologically savvy so that they can really help out in the department they are assigned to. Student-workers should be responsible, trustworthy, and diligent.

Senior social worker vs student worker salary

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

Senior Social WorkerStudent Worker
Average salary$55,254$25,735
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $75,000Between $19,000 And $34,000
Highest paying CityNewark, NJAlbany, NY
Highest paying stateNew JerseyConnecticut
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryGovernmentRetail

Differences between senior social worker and student worker education

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

Senior Social WorkerStudent Worker
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorSocial WorkBusiness
Most common collegeBoston CollegeUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior social worker vs student worker demographics

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

Senior Social WorkerStudent Worker
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 23.1% Female, 76.9%Male, 38.7% Female, 61.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between senior social worker and student worker duties and responsibilities

Senior social worker example responsibilities.

  • Collaborate with partners including public and private agencies to achieve permanency for children.
  • Refer customers to other community agencies such as clinics, employment services, and vocational rehabilitation services.
  • Facilitate family meetings to provide support and psycho-education to patients and their family members and to discuss discharge planning.
  • Supervise students in MSW programs and high school programs.
  • Supervise MSW staff and student-interns in adult alcohol/substance abuse program.
  • Collaborate with other hospital departments to streamline services for homeless veterans.
  • Show more

Student worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage club documents and advertise several events through Facebook.
  • Exhibit patient care CPR experience in CNA
  • Maintain neat appearance and cleanliness of the library.
  • Assist with maintaining the cleanliness of the dining room
  • Mow and edge lawns, using power mowers and weed eaters.
  • Provide excellent customer service while assisting students in completing online applications for FAFSA and admissions.
  • Show more

Senior social worker vs student worker skills

Common senior social worker skills
  • Social Work, 41%
  • Patients, 11%
  • Veterans, 4%
  • Treatment Services, 3%
  • Patient Care, 3%
  • Rehabilitation, 3%
Common student worker skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Front Desk, 11%
  • Twitter, 8%
  • Financial Aid, 6%
  • PowerPoint, 5%
  • Computer Lab, 4%

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