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The differences between youth workers and school social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a youth worker and a school social worker. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, which is higher than the $32,242 average annual salary of a youth worker.
The top three skills for a youth worker include direct supervision, CPR and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a school social worker are social work, social emotional, and IEP.
| Youth Worker | School Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $32,242 | $54,856 |
| Hourly rate | $15.50 | $26.37 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 87,360 | 122,376 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Youth workers specialize in handling and providing support to young individuals with behavioral difficulties. They are primarily responsible for devising recreational projects, handling the budget, producing progress reports, managing intervention programs, and counseling troubled youth while keeping their information confidential. There may be instances where one must also search for opportunities and apply for funding or sponsorship. Furthermore, as a youth worker, it is vital to assess an individual's condition to determine their needs and ensure that they will receive the proper treatment.
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.
Youth workers and school social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Worker | School Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $32,242 | $54,856 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Freehold, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Salt Lake County | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a youth worker and a school social worker in terms of educational background:
| Youth Worker | School Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Social Work |
| Most common college | SUNY at Albany | Boston College |
Here are the differences between youth workers' and school social workers' demographics:
| Youth Worker | School Social Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 10% | 10% |