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The differences between social workers and mental health specialists 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 mental health specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a social worker has an average salary of $50,102, which is higher than the $47,321 average annual salary of a mental health specialist.
The top three skills for a social worker include social work, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a mental health specialist are patients, social work, and rehabilitation.
| Social Worker | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,102 | $47,321 |
| Hourly rate | $24.09 | $22.75 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 77,340 | 131,449 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
A mental health specialist is responsible for evaluating a patient's mental health condition and develop appropriate treatment plans to help the patients cope up with their mental difficulties. Mental health specialists provide counseling to the patients, listening to their situation, and responding with the utmost consideration. They also create regular progress reports and medical charts to monitor ongoing medication, updating treatment plans as needed. A mental health specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills, helping the patients deal with their mental stress and return to a healthy lifestyle.
Social workers and mental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Worker | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $50,102 | $47,321 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $31,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Health Advocates | Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a social worker and a mental health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Social Worker | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between social workers' and mental health specialists' demographics:
| Social Worker | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% |
| 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, 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 | 13% | 15% |