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Resident assistant: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $29,870lowest 10% earn less
- $35,51025th percentile
- $42,240median
- $49,92075th percentile
- $61,060top 10% earn more
Residential advisors, the BLS category that includes resident assistant jobs, earned a median of $42,240 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects 3.5% job growth from 2025 to 2035, the same as for all occupations[2][3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3.5%[2]
- Openings per year
- 16,500[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[7]
How much do resident assistants make?
The median wage for residential advisors was $42,240 a year, or $20.31 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $43,990 a year, or $21.15 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5], so this job's median sits below it.
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $29,870 a year, and the 90th percentile was $61,060[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9].
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[4][10] | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| 25th[4][10] | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| Median[1] | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| 75th[4][10] | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| 90th[4][10] | $61,060 | $29.36 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[11].
Pay by state and city
Among the 50 states and DC with published data, New Hampshire had the highest median wage at $49,010[12]. Minnesota followed at $48,770[12] and Washington at $48,640[12]. Alabama had the lowest at $27,650[12].
The most jobs were in California (8,120), New York (6,150) and Massachusetts (5,120)[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Barnstable Town, MA had the highest median at $59,140[14]. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($56,170) and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,800) came next[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 4,910, then Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at 3,570[15].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire[12] | $49,010 | 420 |
| Minnesota | $48,770 | 3,410 |
| Washington | $48,640 | 1,810 |
| North Dakota | $48,590 | 260 |
| New York | $48,380 | 6,150 |
| Massachusetts | $48,190 | 5,120 |
| Montana | $47,230 | 350 |
| Oregon | $47,160 | 840 |
| Maryland | $46,950 | 2,640 |
| California | $46,650 | 8,120 |
| Alaska | $46,180 | 380 |
| Nebraska | $45,980 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $45,280 | 460 |
| Colorado | $44,750 | 760 |
| Vermont | $44,710 | 170 |
| Illinois | $44,130 | 2,720 |
| New Jersey | $43,880 | 1,630 |
| Maine | $43,780 | 640 |
| Connecticut | $43,620 | 1,250 |
| Virginia | $42,890 | 2,950 |
| Wisconsin | $41,690 | 1,190 |
| Arizona | $41,480 | 1,260 |
| Florida | $40,660 | 1,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,010 | 4,380 |
| Michigan | $39,730 | 1,770 |
| Georgia | $39,380 | 2,460 |
| Utah | $39,240 | 990 |
| North Carolina | $39,130 | 2,840 |
| Indiana | $38,850 | 1,360 |
| Nevada | $38,790 | 190 |
| Ohio | $38,590 | 3,070 |
| District of Columbia | $38,480 | 670 |
| South Dakota | $38,420 | 1,780 |
| Arkansas | $38,300 | 910 |
| Kansas | $37,680 | 510 |
| Texas | $37,630 | 3,630 |
| New Mexico | $37,540 | 590 |
| Idaho | $37,160 | 400 |
| Hawaii | $36,930 | 640 |
| Iowa | $36,850 | 780 |
| Missouri | $36,510 | 1,380 |
| South Carolina | $35,780 | 1,580 |
| Oklahoma | $35,390 | 1,060 |
| Tennessee | $34,700 | 2,360 |
| Delaware | $34,530 | 350 |
| Wyoming | $34,500 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $33,800 | 420 |
| West Virginia | $31,840 | 1,180 |
| Mississippi | $30,900 | 660 |
| Kentucky | $30,260 | 1,580 |
| Alabama | $27,650 | 2,570 |
How to become a resident assistant
- First: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry[7].
- Next: expect short-term on-the-job training once you are hired[7].
- Work experience in a related job is not a typical requirement[7].
ONET places the job in Job Zone Three, which means medium preparation, with some previous skill, knowledge or experience expected[16]. In an ONET survey of 29 workers, 50% said some college courses were required and 31% said a bachelor's degree[17]. Because the survey is small, treat these as survey answers, not a count of all workers.
Sample job titles reported by workers include Resident Assistant, Resident Advisor, Residence Hall Director and Residence Life Coordinator[18].
What resident assistants do
O*NET describes the work as coordinating activities in resident facilities such as school and college dormitories or group homes[19]. The description adds that advisors may order supplies, assign rooms and point residents to counseling resources[19]. Typical tasks include:
- Working with other staff to solve problems with individual students[20]
- Watching for unusual behavior and reporting it[20]
- Training and supervising residence hall staff and student workers[20]
- Giving emergency first aid and calling for medical help[20]
- Making regular rounds to keep residents and areas safe[20]
- Helping residents work through conflicts[20]
- Enforcing dormitory rules[20]
- Reporting facility repair needs[20]
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 94,100 jobs to 97,400[2]. These counts include self-employed workers. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[3].
BLS projects about 16,500 openings a year[6]. These include jobs left by people who stop working or switch occupations, not only new jobs. Each year, 7.4% of workers leave the labor force and 9.5% move to a different occupation[21].
For comparison, social and human service assistants are projected to grow 7.4% and recreation workers 4.3%[22].
Is it a good fit?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training as the typical path[7], while an O*NET survey of 29 workers pointed to some college or a bachelor's degree[17]. Pay is below the all-occupation median[1][5], and the 90th percentile was $61,060[4]. Job growth matches the national rate[2][3], and about 16,500 openings a year are projected[6]. The work centers on safety, mediation and supporting residents[20].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a resident assistant make an hour?
- The median for residential advisors was $20.31 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $21.15[1][8].
- What education do you need to be a resident assistant?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical entry education, with short-term on-the-job training[7].
- Is a resident assistant job in demand?
- BLS projects 3.5% growth from 2025 to 2035, the same as all occupations[2][3]. About 16,500 openings a year are projected[6].
- What is the highest paying state for resident assistants?
- New Hampshire, with a median of $49,010, followed by Minnesota at $48,770[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Residential Advisors in the US was $42,240 per year and $20.31 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Residential Advisors is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 94,100 to 97,400 jobs (a change of +3,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Residential Advisors: 10th percentile $29,870, 25th percentile $35,510, 75th percentile $49,920, 90th percentile $61,060. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 16,500 openings for Residential Advisors are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Residential Advisors: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Residential Advisors was $43,990 per year and $21.15 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Residential Advisors: 10th percentile $14.36, 25th percentile $17.07, 75th percentile $24.00, 90th percentile $29.36. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Residential Advisors in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Residential Advisors jobs: California 8,120; New York 6,150; Massachusetts 5,120; Pennsylvania 4,380; Texas 3,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Residential Advisors (areas with at least 100 jobs): Barnstable Town, MA $59,140; Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $56,170; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $55,800; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $54,510; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $54,310; Springfield, MO $52,730; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $52,410; Syracuse, NY $51,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Residential Advisors jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 4,910 (median $47,510); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,570 (median $45,240); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 3,250 (median $48,830); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,040 (median $47,010); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,910 (median $52,410); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,820 (median $39,990). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 39-9041.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 39-9041.00 survey of workers (29 respondents), education level they say is required: Some College Courses 50%, Bachelor's Degree 31%, Less than a High School Diploma 7%, Doctoral Degree 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 39-9041.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Hall Coordinator, Residence Director, Residence Hall Director, Residence Life Coordinator, Residence Life Director, Resident Advisor, Resident Assistant, Resident Director. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Residential Advisors. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Residential Advisors. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Residential Advisors: 7.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 9.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.