Social work case manager vs mental health case manager

The differences between social work case managers and mental health case managers 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 work case manager, becoming a mental health case manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a social work case manager has an average salary of $45,321, which is higher than the $42,574 average annual salary of a mental health case manager.

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

Social work case manager vs mental health case manager overview

	Social Work Case Manager	Mental Health Case Manager
Yearly salary	$45,321	$42,574
Hourly rate	$21.79	$20.47
Growth rate	12%	9%
Number of jobs	49,793	128,509
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age	43	45
Years of experience	12	4

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 mental health case manager do?

A Mental Health Care Manager supervises the development and implementation of care plans for clients. They regularly check on their clients and make recommendations for improving clients health care needs.

Social work case manager vs mental health case manager salary

Social work case managers and mental health case managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Social Work Case Manager	Mental Health Case Manager
Average salary	$45,321	$42,574
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $61,000	Between $33,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City	San Leandro, CA	Oakland, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Tenet Healthcare	Washington State University
Best paying industry	Health Care	Government

Differences between social work case manager and mental health case manager education

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

	Social Work Case Manager	Mental Health Case Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common major	Social Work	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Fullerton	California State University - Long Beach

Social work case manager vs mental health case manager demographics

Here are the differences between social work case managers' and mental health case managers' demographics:

	Social Work Case Manager	Mental Health Case Manager
Average age	43	45
Gender ratio	Male, 19.4% Female, 80.6%	Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7%
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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	11%	15%

Differences between social work case manager and mental health case manager 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.

Mental health case manager example responsibilities.

Manage the care of patients with tuberculosis (TB) during their hospitalization and their discharge follow-up care.
Coordinate, collaborate, and refer to various community agencies to assist in meeting consumer's needs and maximizing their rehabilitation.
Perform intensive early intervention behavior therapy for children diagnose on the autism spectrum disorder using the principles of apply behavior analysis.
Organize and participate in the development, review and evaluation of IFSP meeting.
Assist the individual to access activities, supports and services identify in the ISP.
Coordinate cases with supervisor, team members, providers, DCF and attorneys as needed.

Social work case manager vs mental health case manager 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 mental health case manager skills

Mental Health, 15%
Social Work, 14%
Patients, 8%
Management Services, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%
Crisis Intervention, 4%

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Social Work Case Manager
Social Work Case Manager vs Mental Health Case Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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