Residential Advisors: Job Description
Coordinate activities in resident facilities in secondary school and college dormitories, group homes, or similar establishments. Order supplies and determine need for maintenance, repairs, and furnishings. May maintain household records and assign rooms. May assist residents with problem solving or refer them to counseling resources.
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The Daily Work of Residential Advisors Take On?
Typical responsibilities of residential advisors span:
- Communicate with other staff to resolve problems with individual students.
- Observe students to detect and report unusual behavior.
- Supervise, train, and evaluate residence hall staff, including resident assistants, participants in work-study programs, and other student workers.
- Provide emergency first aid and summon medical assistance when necessary.
- Make regular rounds to ensure that residents and areas are safe and secure.
- Mediate interpersonal problems between residents.
- Enforce rules and regulations to ensure the smooth and orderly operation of dormitory programs.
- Determine the need for facility maintenance and repair, and notify appropriate personnel.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top residential advisors rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Residential Advisors Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Cottage Parent
- Cottage Supervisor
- Dormitory Counselor
- Dormitory Supervisor
- Hall Coordinator
- Hall Director
- House Father
- House Mother
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 461,409 residential advisors working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +5.5% over the projection horizon.
Residential Advisors Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $46,273 |
| Hourly median | $22.25 |
| 10th percentile | $28,487 |
| 25th percentile | $37,380 |
| 75th percentile | $55,165 |
| 90th percentile | $64,058 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $47,620 |
| North Dakota | $47,520 |
| Massachusetts | $47,120 |
| Washington | $47,110 |
| California | $46,850 |
| Minnesota | $46,800 |
| Alaska | $45,730 |
| Connecticut | $44,660 |
| New York | $44,420 |
| Montana | $43,870 |
| Rhode Island | $43,420 |
| Maine | $43,050 |
| Nebraska | $41,440 |
| Virginia | $41,360 |
| New Hampshire | $40,590 |
| Nevada | $40,410 |
| New Jersey | $40,320 |
| Colorado | $39,780 |
| Illinois | $39,730 |
| Utah | $39,520 |
| Vermont | $38,530 |
| Arkansas | $38,340 |
| Indiana | $38,240 |
| Maryland | $38,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,220 |
| District of Columbia | $38,160 |
| Michigan | $38,150 |
| South Carolina | $37,930 |
| Wisconsin | $37,880 |
| Florida | $37,660 |
| Kansas | $37,320 |
| Iowa | $37,260 |
| Texas | $37,180 |
| South Dakota | $36,780 |
| North Carolina | $36,590 |
| Ohio | $36,270 |
| Arizona | $36,180 |
| Missouri | $36,180 |
| New Mexico | $35,710 |
| Georgia | $35,450 |
| Idaho | $35,430 |
| Delaware | $34,390 |
| Wyoming | $33,630 |
| Hawaii | $33,440 |
| Oklahoma | $32,720 |
| Tennessee | $32,090 |
| Louisiana | $30,850 |
| Mississippi | $29,660 |
| West Virginia | $29,400 |
| Kentucky | $28,800 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,410 |
| Alabama | $27,750 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for residential advisors shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $45,828 | 13.5% | 0.91 |
| New England | $45,664 | 9.2% | 2.05 |
| Plains States | $41,924 | 9.5% | 2.95 |
| Middle Atlantic | $40,326 | 19.1% | 1.37 |
| Rocky Mountains | $38,808 | 3.6% | 1.01 |
| Great Lakes | $37,965 | 11.7% | 0.86 |
| Southwest | $36,111 | 7.7% | 0.76 |
| Southeast | $34,338 | 25.7% | 1.36 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Residential Advisors
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $55,310 | 350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $55,120 | 1,110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $53,840 | 90 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $53,590 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $52,330 | 830 |
| Minot, ND | ND | $52,150 | 50 |
| Ithaca, NY | NY | $51,360 | 110 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $51,080 | 80 |
Which Industries Hire Residential Advisors
The largest employers of residential advisors are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 59,220 | $38,720 |
| Educational Services | 14,140 | $39,340 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 2,270 | $40,510 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,110 | $38,000 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,050 | $41,700 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 540 | $38,730 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 360 | $52,040 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Residential Advisors Use
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of residential advisors reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Telephone Conversations
How to Become Residential Advisors
Entry-level residential advisors positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Short)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Primary-Short)
- Mental Health Counselors (Supplemental)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Primary-Short)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future residential advisors typically earn programs in:
Education
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-9041.00 (Residential Advisors).
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