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The differences between social services specialists and case workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a social services specialist, becoming a case worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a social services specialist has an average salary of $48,359, which is higher than the $41,459 average annual salary of a case worker.
The top three skills for a social services specialist include social work, patients and substance abuse. The most important skills for a case worker are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.
| Social Services Specialist | Case Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $48,359 | $41,459 |
| Hourly rate | $23.25 | $19.93 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 154,022 | 107,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A Social Services Specialist provides social services to children and adults in communities, facilities, institutions, or hospitals. They develop and implement specialized treatment programs.
Caseworkers are social workers who watch over the welfare of underprivileged individuals and at-risk families by counseling and providing them with assistance. Usually employed under the government or a local non-profit organization, a caseworker must conduct a thorough interview and house visits to determine the needs of the family. They then refer them to any programs or agencies that can give them the specific care and help needed. Furthermore, it is crucial to identify neglect and abuse signs, reporting them to the authorities right away.
Social services specialists and case workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Services Specialist | Case Worker | |
| Average salary | $48,359 | $41,459 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $30,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Appalachian Regional Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Education |
There are a few differences between a social services specialist and a case worker in terms of educational background:
| Social Services Specialist | Case Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Dominguez Hills | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between social services specialists' and case workers' demographics:
| Social Services Specialist | Case Worker | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5% | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | 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 | 11% | 10% |