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The differences between social services counselors and school social 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 social services counselor and a school social worker. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, which is higher than the $45,514 average annual salary of a social services counselor.
The top three skills for a social services counselor include social work, patients and social services. The most important skills for a school social worker are social work, social emotional, and IEP.
| Social Services Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $45,514 | $54,856 |
| Hourly rate | $21.88 | $26.37 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 151,229 | 122,376 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Social service counselors provide a wide range of counselling such as psychological assessment, diagnosis, and therapy. They must evaluate patient data, do psychological tests, and apply their observations. They may also review clinical issues and programs. Typically, they work in institutions or private practices.
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.
Social services counselors and school social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Services Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $45,514 | $54,856 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $65,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trenton, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Mission Regional Medical Center | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a social services counselor and a school social worker in terms of educational background:
| Social Services Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | Boston University | Boston College |
Here are the differences between social services counselors' and school social workers' demographics:
| Social Services Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4% | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |