Residential advisors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Mean (average) | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| 90th percentile | $61,060 | $29.36 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Residential advisors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,650 | $22,550 | $37,880 | 2,570 | 2.23 |
| Alaska | $46,180 | $44,720 | $50,810 | 380 | 2.14 |
| Arizona | $41,480 | $31,620 | $59,950 | 1,260 | 0.71 |
| Arkansas | $38,300 | $26,330 | $48,750 | 910 | 1.27 |
| California | $46,650 | $35,150 | $70,370 | 8,120 | 0.82 |
| Colorado | $44,750 | $36,400 | $59,050 | 760 | 0.48 |
| Connecticut | $43,620 | $38,580 | $59,580 | 1,250 | 1.36 |
| Delaware | $34,530 | $31,200 | $53,720 | 350 | 1.34 |
| District of Columbia | $38,480 | $36,600 | $56,490 | 670 | 1.74 |
| Florida | $40,660 | $31,200 | $58,780 | 1,610 | 0.3 |
| Georgia | $39,380 | $28,500 | $60,690 | 2,460 | 0.92 |
| Hawaii | $36,930 | $30,530 | $59,480 | 640 | 1.88 |
| Idaho | $37,160 | $31,320 | $46,120 | 400 | 0.85 |
| Illinois | $44,130 | $35,090 | $58,790 | 2,720 | 0.82 |
| Indiana | $38,850 | $27,760 | $59,120 | 1,360 | 0.78 |
| Iowa | $36,850 | $31,090 | $49,780 | 780 | 0.92 |
| Kansas | $37,680 | $24,880 | $60,520 | 510 | 0.65 |
| Kentucky | $30,260 | $19,600 | $46,740 | 1,580 | 1.45 |
| Louisiana | $33,800 | $21,450 | $58,520 | 420 | 0.4 |
| Maine | $43,780 | $38,950 | $58,090 | 640 | 1.83 |
| Maryland | $46,950 | $32,720 | $61,780 | 2,640 | 1.75 |
| Massachusetts | $48,190 | $37,850 | $65,980 | 5,120 | 2.58 |
| Michigan | $39,730 | $32,540 | $53,830 | 1,770 | 0.74 |
| Minnesota | $48,770 | $41,270 | $60,220 | 3,410 | 2.12 |
| Mississippi | $30,900 | $23,400 | $47,190 | 660 | 1.04 |
| Missouri | $36,510 | $28,600 | $62,730 | 1,380 | 0.86 |
| Montana | $47,230 | $38,460 | $58,950 | 350 | 1.25 |
| Nebraska | $45,980 | $29,440 | $47,130 | 230 | 0.41 |
| Nevada | $38,790 | $35,440 | $55,580 | 190 | 0.22 |
| New Hampshire | $49,010 | $32,940 | $69,990 | 420 | 1.14 |
| New Jersey | $43,880 | $36,550 | $77,100 | 1,630 | 0.7 |
| New Mexico | $37,540 | $31,220 | $53,030 | 590 | 1.24 |
| New York | $48,380 | $37,030 | $71,450 | 6,150 | 1.16 |
| North Carolina | $39,130 | $27,420 | $61,060 | 2,840 | 1.06 |
| North Dakota | $48,590 | $35,900 | $62,850 | 260 | 1.13 |
| Ohio | $38,590 | $28,390 | $50,710 | 3,070 | 1.02 |
| Oklahoma | $35,390 | $22,690 | $46,150 | 1,060 | 1.14 |
| Oregon | $47,160 | $34,300 | $62,460 | 840 | 0.78 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,010 | $28,580 | $58,330 | 4,380 | 1.33 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,540 | $27,350 | $38,070 | 30 | 0.06 |
| Rhode Island | $45,280 | $33,460 | $67,940 | 460 | 1.68 |
| South Carolina | $35,780 | $24,080 | $50,310 | 1,580 | 1.26 |
| South Dakota | $38,420 | $29,070 | $48,210 | 1,780 | 7.15 |
| Tennessee | $34,700 | $27,930 | $49,830 | 2,360 | 1.32 |
| Texas | $37,630 | $28,750 | $58,660 | 3,630 | 0.47 |
| Utah | $39,240 | $32,200 | $55,320 | 990 | 1.04 |
| Vermont | $44,710 | $35,090 | $58,820 | 170 | 1.04 |
| Virginia | $42,890 | $34,220 | $66,470 | 2,950 | 1.32 |
| Washington | $48,640 | $39,500 | $64,560 | 1,810 | 0.94 |
| West Virginia | $31,840 | $22,090 | $43,210 | 1,180 | 3.08 |
| Wisconsin | $41,690 | $30,090 | $46,910 | 1,190 | 0.74 |
| Wyoming | $34,500 | $34,260 | $42,870 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for residential advisors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 16,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for residential advisors
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- College Student Counseling and Personnel Services CIP 13.1102
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other CIP 13.1199
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Budgeting software
- Email software
- Survey software
- Web browser software
- Website development software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Negotiation, Service Orientation, Time Management, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Hall Coordinator, Residence Director, Residence Hall Director, Residence Life Coordinator, Residence Life Director, Resident Advisor, Resident Assistant, Resident Director, Residential Coordinator, Residential Life Director.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do residential advisors make?
The national median annual wage for residential advisors was $42,240 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $29,870 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $61,060. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do residential advisors need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is residential advisors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of residential advisors to change +3.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 16,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay residential advisors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Hampshire ($49,010), Minnesota ($48,770), Washington ($48,640). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.