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Social worker vs clinical social worker

The differences between social workers and clinical social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a social worker and a clinical social worker. Additionally, a clinical social worker has an average salary of $63,056, which is higher than the $50,102 average annual salary of a social worker.

The top three skills for a social worker include social work, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a clinical social worker are social work, patients, and behavioral health.

Social worker vs clinical social worker overview

Social WorkerClinical Social Worker
Yearly salary$50,102$63,056
Hourly rate$24.09$30.32
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs77,340124,816
Job satisfaction4.5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Master's Degree, 54%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

What does a social worker do?

Social workers help their clients get through problems that they may be facing. Social workers help identify individuals or groups of people, usually families, who may need assistance, generally through a set of pre-determined criteria. They then determine the best ways to help their clients by interviewing them, getting to know them, and understanding the context of their lives. They create plans that will help their clients become better, such as integrating into a new environment, assisting them in their needs, or even rescuing them from their current place. Social workers have good interpersonal skills and communication skills.

What does a clinical social worker do?

A clinical social worker is an individual in social work, which provides help to individuals in need of improving their lives and their well-being. Clinical social workers must work with different individuals to help them address difficulties that they are trying to overcome. To perform counseling services, clinical social workers must take and pass the professional licensure examination. They also help disadvantaged individuals connect to resources and services that they may benefit from.

Social worker vs clinical social worker salary

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

Social WorkerClinical Social Worker
Average salary$50,102$63,056
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $67,000Between $42,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CityPortland, ORSanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateOregonCalifornia
Best paying companyHealth AdvocatesTucson Electric Power
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between social worker and clinical social worker education

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

Social WorkerClinical Social Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Master's Degree, 54%
Most common majorSocial WorkSocial Work
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Social worker vs clinical social worker demographics

Here are the differences between social workers' and clinical social workers' demographics:

Social WorkerClinical Social Worker
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 19.5% Female, 80.5%Male, 21.7% Female, 78.3%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage13%13%

Differences between social worker and clinical social worker duties and responsibilities

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

Clinical social worker example responsibilities.

  • Understand manage care, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
  • Screen, identify, diagnose using DSM nomenclature, treat and manage mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
  • Provide clinical services to patients in rehabilitation and oncology including assessment, crisis intervention, grief therapy, and discharge planning.
  • Provide individual, group, family therapy, team coordination, discharge planning, utilization review and MSW student supervision.
  • Participate in weekly interdisciplinary team meetings to determine Medicare length of skil nursing stay.
  • Facilitate therapy, symptom management, and rehabilitation groups for mental health clients in partial hospitalization setting.
    • Show more

Social worker vs clinical social worker skills

Common social worker skills
  • Social Work, 30%
  • Patients, 15%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • MSW, 4%
  • Discharge Planning, 4%
  • Home Health, 4%
Common clinical social worker skills
  • Social Work, 28%
  • Patients, 17%
  • Behavioral Health, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Community Resources, 4%
  • MSW, 3%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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