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Social welfare clerk vs social worker

The differences between social welfare clerks and social 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 welfare clerk, becoming a social worker takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a social worker has an average salary of $50,102, which is higher than the $37,585 average annual salary of a social welfare clerk.

The top three skills for a social welfare clerk include social work, data entry and patient intake. The most important skills for a social worker are social work, patients, and patient care.

Social welfare clerk vs social worker overview

Social Welfare ClerkSocial Worker
Yearly salary$37,585$50,102
Hourly rate$18.07$24.09
Growth rate12%9%
Number of jobs92,75877,340
Job satisfaction-4.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4345
Years of experience122

Social welfare clerk vs social worker salary

Social welfare clerks and social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Social Welfare ClerkSocial Worker
Average salary$37,585$50,102
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $48,000Between $37,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City-Portland, OR
Highest paying state-Oregon
Best paying company-Health Advocates
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between social welfare clerk and social worker education

There are a few differences between a social welfare clerk and a social worker in terms of educational background:

Social Welfare ClerkSocial Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorPsychologySocial Work
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - FullertonUniversity of Pennsylvania

Social welfare clerk vs social worker demographics

Here are the differences between social welfare clerks' and social workers' demographics:

Social Welfare ClerkSocial Worker
Average age4345
Gender ratioMale, 27.3% Female, 72.7%Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 16.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 4.6% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%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 Percentage11%13%

Differences between social welfare clerk and social worker duties and responsibilities

Social welfare clerk example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
  • Meet rehabilitation facility staff and durable medical equipment companies intake coordinators or administrators to learn about their facility or company.
  • Complete MDS paperwork and gather necessary pertinent information.

Social worker example responsibilities.

  • Assist clients in achieving treatment goals such as anger, ADHD, grief, social skills, and manners.
  • Lead and co-le CBT and DBT skills-base groups with participants, as well as relapse prevention, mindfulness and process groups.
  • Support patient questions and issues regarding Medicare ESRD entitlement and Medicaid and assist in the completion of the appropriate documentation.
  • Coordinate IPU discharge planning patients to SNF, ALF, PCH or in-home care with necessary support for care.
  • Facilitate relationships with AKF and other patient assistance programs, VA, Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance providers.
  • Complete Medicaid and Medicare applications as needed.
  • Show more

Social welfare clerk vs social worker skills

Common social welfare clerk skills
  • Social Work, 37%
  • Data Entry, 34%
  • Patient Intake, 28%
Common social worker skills
  • Social Work, 30%
  • Patients, 15%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • MSW, 4%
  • Discharge Planning, 4%
  • Home Health, 4%

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