Residential Advisors
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.
Also called: Cottage Parent, Cottage Supervisor, Dormitory Counselor, Dormitory Supervisor, Hall Coordinator, Hall Director
Median pay
$42,240
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$29,870 – $61,060
People employed
84,760
Holland code
SCE
Social · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
The hard parts
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- Tight deadlines are common
Residential Advisors pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What residential advisors do
- 01Communicate with other staff to resolve problems with individual students.
- 02Observe students to detect and report unusual behavior.
- 03Supervise, train, and evaluate residence hall staff, including resident assistants, participants in work-study programs, and other student workers.
- 04Provide emergency first aid and summon medical assistance when necessary.
- 05Make regular rounds to ensure that residents and areas are safe and secure.
- 06Mediate interpersonal problems between residents.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from residential advisors
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers87% · +15%
- Social and Community Service Managers84% · +90%
- Patient Representatives83% · group pay
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers83% · +41%
- Social and Human Service Assistants82% · +9%
Change into residential advisors
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers79% · $48,590
- Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan77% · $45,920
- Social and Human Service Assistants77% · $45,930
- Patient Representatives76% · $50,290
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education75% · $38,140
Majors that lead here
- College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.