Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between vocational rehabilitation counselors and school social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a vocational rehabilitation counselor, becoming a school social worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, which is higher than the $45,871 average annual salary of a vocational rehabilitation counselor.
The top three skills for a vocational rehabilitation counselor include rehabilitation, substance abuse and transferable. The most important skills for a school social worker are social work, social emotional, and IEP.
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $45,871 | $54,856 |
| Hourly rate | $22.05 | $26.37 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 78,174 | 122,376 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
The primary role of a vocational rehabilitation counselor is to help disabled people to live fully and independently. Vocational rehabilitation counselors assist people with disabilities in securing employment. They provide health care to those who are coping with mental illness, substance abuse issues, psychological disorders, or physical disabilities. Knowledge of patient care, health management, rehabilitation program, and clinical psychology is a must for this job.
A school social worker specializes in counseling students, families, and faculty members. They are responsible for coordinating with the school to develop programs that prioritize the students' emotional and psychological well-being, respond to any issues and concerns, build rapport to identify their needs, and communicate with support services to provide necessary assistance to any students or families. There are also instances when a school social worker must assist teachers in handling students with behavioral issues, investigating the underlying reasons. Moreover, it is crucial to identify any signs of neglect or abuse, conducting interventive measures right away.
Vocational rehabilitation counselors and school social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $45,871 | $54,856 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $62,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Williston, ND | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | New York State Restaurant Association | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Education |
There are a few differences between a vocational rehabilitation counselor and a school social worker in terms of educational background:
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Boston College |
Here are the differences between vocational rehabilitation counselors' and school social workers' demographics:
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% | 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 | 21% | 10% |