Social work case manager vs case management specialist

The differences between social work case managers and case management specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a social work case manager and a case management specialist. Additionally, a social work case manager has an average salary of $45,321, which is higher than the $41,553 average annual salary of a case management specialist.

The top three skills for a social work case manager include social work, patients and social services. The most important skills for a case management specialist are patients, social work, and mental health.

Social work case manager vs case management specialist overview

	Social Work Case Manager	Case Management Specialist
Yearly salary	$45,321	$41,553
Hourly rate	$21.79	$19.98
Growth rate	12%	12%
Number of jobs	49,793	153,985
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	12	12

What does a social work case manager do?

A Social Work Case Manager counsels groups or individuals in dealing with chronic illness, loss of a loved one, or substance abuse. They evaluate the needs of each individual client and maintain detailed records of their progress in the healing process.

What does a case management specialist do?

In healthcare facilities, a case management specialist is in charge of ensuring that patients get quality service. Their responsibilities often include handling admission and discharge procedures, preparing and processing documents, gathering and organizing patient information, and developing strategies to optimize case management operations. There are also instances where they must address patient concerns and issues, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a case management specialist, it is essential to function while adhering to the facility's policies and regulations.

Social work case manager vs case management specialist salary

Social work case managers and case management specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Social Work Case Manager	Case Management Specialist
Average salary	$45,321	$41,553
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $61,000	Between $27,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	San Leandro, CA	San Mateo, CA
Highest paying state	California	Hawaii
Best paying company	Tenet Healthcare	McKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry	Health Care	Technology

Differences between social work case manager and case management specialist education

There are a few differences between a social work case manager and a case management specialist in terms of educational background:

	Social Work Case Manager	Case Management Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Social Work	Nursing
Most common college	California State University - Fullerton	SUNY at Binghamton

Social work case manager vs case management specialist demographics

Here are the differences between social work case managers' and case management specialists' demographics:

	Social Work Case Manager	Case Management Specialist
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 19.4% Female, 80.6%	Male, 19.6% Female, 80.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 6.4% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%	Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between social work case manager and case management specialist duties and responsibilities

Social work case manager example responsibilities.

Collaborate with partners including public and private agencies to achieve permanency for children.
Facilitate resource management by making appropriate referrals to community agencies that help patients remain safe and independent in their home environment.
Review inpatient hospital medical records using InterQual criteria to determine that patient admission meet quality and utilization standards.
Adhere to rules and regulations pertinent to inpatient rehabilitation as defined by Medicare/Medicaid and other licensing and accrediting organizations.
Coordinate and schedule in home physician visits and transportation arrangements for patients to receive medical services in hospitals and clinics.
Respond to high volume telephone and walk-in inquiries regarding long-term placement, government entitlements, rehabilitation, and services provide.

Case management specialist example responsibilities.

Manage caseload by providing care coordination to individuals with a primary intellectual/developmental disability diagnosis all of whom receive community-base waiver services.
Provide case management to give emergency financial assistance to veterans and their families during a financial crisis.
Complete admission, stay and discharge reviews utilizing Interqual criteria to evaluate medical necessity as indicated by corporate standards.
Fax documents to skil nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities.
Perform psycho-social management, intervention, advocacy, and referral services for patients and significant others.
Supervise in educating patients and direct care staff about self-management of chronic illness tailoring instructions to patient's individual circumstances.

Social work case manager vs case management specialist skills

Common social work case manager skills

Social Work, 38%
Patients, 20%
Social Services, 5%
Discharge Planning, 4%
Acute Care, 4%
Patient Care, 3%

Common case management specialist skills

Patients, 19%
Social Work, 15%
Mental Health, 8%
Community Resources, 4%
Patient Care, 4%
Crisis Intervention, 4%

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Social Work Case Manager
Social Work Case Manager vs Case Management Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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