Residential Advisors Career, Salary and Skills
Residential Advisors have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $42,240 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 84,760. Wage data is published for 331 locations.
Occupation 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.
O*NET code
39-9041.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Some College Courses
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$42,240
Hourly median
$20.31
Employment
84,760
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.00 | 3.50 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Speaking | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Coordination | 3.75 | 3.38 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.62 | 4.00 |
| Service Orientation | 3.62 | 3.12 |
| Negotiation | 3.62 | 3.00 |
| Time Management | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Persuasion | 3.38 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Assign rooms to students.
- 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.
- Inventory, pack, and remove items left behind by former residents.
Technology
- Budgeting software
- Email software
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Survey software
- Web browser software
- Website development software
Residential Advisors salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Residential Advisors Salary in CAMedian $46,650 · Employment 8,120
- Residential Advisors Salary in NYMedian $48,380 · Employment 6,150
- Residential Advisors Salary in MAMedian $48,190 · Employment 5,120
- Residential Advisors Salary in New York, NYMedian $47,510 · Employment 4,910
- Residential Advisors Salary in PAMedian $40,010 · Employment 4,380
- Residential Advisors Salary in TXMedian $37,630 · Employment 3,630
- Residential Advisors Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $45,240 · Employment 3,570
- Residential Advisors Salary in MNMedian $48,770 · Employment 3,410
- Residential Advisors Salary in Boston, MAMedian $48,830 · Employment 3,250
- Residential Advisors Salary in OHMedian $38,590 · Employment 3,070
- Residential Advisors Salary in Washington, DCMedian $47,010 · Employment 3,040
- Residential Advisors Salary in VAMedian $42,890 · Employment 2,950
Related careers
- Health Education SpecialistsNational median $64,070
- Mental Health CounselorsNational median not published
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsNational median $54,210
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersNational median $60,280
- Directors, Religious Activities and EducationNational median $52,100
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareNational median $59,300
- Education Administrators, PostsecondaryNational median $104,590
- Personal Care AidesNational median not published
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.