Social worker vs foster care worker

The differences between social workers and foster care workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a social worker, becoming a foster care worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a social worker has an average salary of $50,102, which is higher than the $46,037 average annual salary of a foster care worker.

The top three skills for a social worker include social work, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a foster care worker are foster care, social work, and child abuse.

Social worker vs foster care worker overview

	Social Worker	Foster Care Worker
Yearly salary	$50,102	$46,037
Hourly rate	$24.09	$22.13
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	77,340	151,625
Job satisfaction	4.5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	45	42
Years of experience	2	4

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 foster care worker do?

A Foster Care Worker helps improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families as well as increases the family's well-being and the academic functioning of children. They counsel families about issues regarding their child's care and develop healthy living situations.

Social worker vs foster care worker salary

Social workers and foster care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Social Worker	Foster Care Worker
Average salary	$50,102	$46,037
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $67,000	Between $32,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	Portland, OR	Baltimore, MD
Highest paying state	Oregon	New Jersey
Best paying company	Health Advocates	Riverview Health
Best paying industry	Government	Construction

Differences between social worker and foster care worker education

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

	Social Worker	Foster Care Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Social Work	Social Work
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Boston University

Social worker vs foster care worker demographics

Here are the differences between social workers' and foster care workers' demographics:

	Social Worker	Foster Care Worker
Average age	45	42
Gender ratio	Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5%	Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9%
Race ratio	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%	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	13%	10%

Differences between social worker and foster care 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.

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Foster care worker example responsibilities.

Conduct unscheduled regular school visits to attain records of attendance, suspensions, IEP, and treatment plans.
Manage to write progress note, complete FASP's and input information on PROMIS on a timely manner.
Manage caseload of 18 23 children and adolescents in DSS custody due to abuse, neglect and criminal activity.
Manage a caseload of families with children in DSS custody awaiting return home to family of origin base upon progress make.
Lead presentation and training sessions to community and inter-agency groups.
Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.

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Social worker vs foster care worker skills

Common social worker skills

Social Work, 30%
Patients, 15%
Patient Care, 5%
MSW, 4%
Discharge Planning, 4%
Home Health, 4%

Common foster care worker skills

Foster Care, 26%
Social Work, 19%
Child Abuse, 7%
Social Services, 6%
Foster Children, 5%
Community Resources, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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