Residential Advisors
Residential Advisors (SOC 39-9041) earn a median $42,240 a year ($20.31 an hour) in the United States, with 84,760 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New Hampshire.
What residential advisors do
Residential advisors coordinate activities in residence facilities such as secondary school and college dormitories, group homes, and similar places. They talk with other staff to settle problems involving individual students, watch for unusual behavior and report it, and mediate disputes between residents. They walk regular rounds to check that residents and areas are safe and secure, enforce the rules that keep the dormitory program orderly, and provide emergency first aid and call for medical help when needed. At senior levels they oversee, train, and assess the residence hall team, which includes resident assistants and student workers in work-study programs. They order supplies, work out what maintenance, repairs, and furnishings are needed, tell the right people about repairs, and may keep household records and assign rooms. Some help residents think through problems or point them to counseling. Hall director, dormitory supervisor, and cottage parent show how varied the titles are.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report some college coursework as the usual education level (about 50 percent).
Also called: Cottage Parent, Cottage Supervisor, Dormitory Counselor, Dormitory Supervisor, Hall Coordinator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.36 | $17.07 | $20.31 | $24.00 | $29.36 | $21.15 | 84,760 |
| Annual | $29,870 | $35,510 | $42,240 | $49,920 | $61,060 | $43,990 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where residential advisors earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $15.84 | $19.61 | $23.56 | $28.30 | $33.65 | $24.12 | 420 | 0.62 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $32,940 | $40,790 | $49,010 | $58,860 | $69,990 | $50,170 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $19.84 | $22.35 | $23.45 | $27.14 | $28.95 | $24.41 | 3,410 | 1.16 | 2.12 |
| Annual | $41,270 | $46,480 | $48,770 | $56,460 | $60,220 | $50,770 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $18.99 | $20.94 | $23.38 | $27.39 | $31.04 | $24.49 | 1,810 | 0.51 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $39,500 | $43,560 | $48,640 | $56,970 | $64,560 | $50,940 | ||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $17.26 | $20.05 | $23.36 | $27.65 | $30.22 | $23.66 | 260 | 0.62 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $35,900 | $41,710 | $48,590 | $57,500 | $62,850 | $49,220 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.81 | $19.76 | $23.26 | $29.09 | $34.35 | $24.53 | 6,150 | 0.63 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $37,030 | $41,100 | $48,380 | $60,500 | $71,450 | $51,030 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $16.90 | $18.77 | $22.43 | $27.69 | $33.83 | $24.21 | 8,120 | 0.45 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $35,150 | $39,040 | $46,650 | $57,590 | $70,370 | $50,350 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.81 | $19.76 | $23.26 | $29.09 | $34.35 | $24.53 | 6,150 | 0.63 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $37,030 | $41,100 | $48,380 | $60,500 | $71,450 | $51,030 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $18.20 | $20.82 | $23.17 | $28.32 | $31.72 | $24.48 | 5,120 | 1.41 | 2.58 |
| Annual | $37,850 | $43,310 | $48,190 | $58,910 | $65,980 | $50,910 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $13.74 | $16.87 | $19.24 | $22.93 | $28.04 | $20.02 | 4,380 | 0.72 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $28,580 | $35,090 | $40,010 | $47,700 | $58,330 | $41,630 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $13.82 | $15.46 | $18.09 | $22.40 | $28.20 | $19.51 | 3,630 | 0.26 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $28,750 | $32,160 | $37,630 | $46,590 | $58,660 | $40,570 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Barnstable Town, MA | Hourly | $19.39 | $21.56 | $28.43 | $29.21 | $35.05 | $26.30 | 100 | 1.08 | 1.98 |
| Annual | $40,340 | $44,840 | $59,140 | $60,750 | $72,910 | $54,710 | ||||
| Bloomington, IN | Hourly | $17.99 | $19.19 | $27.44 | $29.62 | $34.28 | $25.19 | 40 | 0.59 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $37,410 | $39,900 | $57,080 | $61,610 | $71,290 | $52,380 | ||||
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | Hourly | $17.42 | $20.03 | $27.00 | $29.36 | $29.36 | $25.22 | 370 | 1.07 | 1.96 |
| Annual | $36,230 | $41,650 | $56,170 | $61,060 | $61,060 | $52,460 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $22.44 | $24.70 | $26.83 | $32.34 | $39.77 | $29.15 | 300 | 0.26 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $46,680 | $51,380 | $55,800 | $67,270 | $82,710 | $60,630 | ||||
| Waco, TX | Hourly | $13.72 | $16.36 | $26.50 | $26.50 | $32.34 | $22.96 | 40 | 0.33 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $28,530 | $34,040 | $55,110 | $55,110 | $67,270 | $47,760 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.81 | $20.02 | $22.84 | $29.36 | $34.68 | $24.85 | 4,910 | 0.52 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $37,030 | $41,640 | $47,510 | $61,060 | $72,130 | $51,680 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $16.90 | $16.90 | $21.75 | $27.24 | $33.56 | $23.31 | 3,570 | 0.57 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $35,150 | $35,150 | $45,240 | $56,650 | $69,800 | $48,480 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $18.01 | $21.42 | $23.48 | $28.56 | $31.72 | $24.61 | 3,250 | 1.20 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $37,450 | $44,540 | $48,830 | $59,400 | $65,980 | $51,200 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $17.60 | $18.56 | $22.60 | $26.13 | $31.87 | $23.55 | 3,040 | 0.97 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $36,600 | $38,600 | $47,010 | $54,340 | $66,300 | $48,990 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $20.76 | $22.38 | $25.20 | $27.65 | $29.62 | $25.10 | 1,910 | 0.98 | 1.79 |
| Annual | $43,180 | $46,540 | $52,410 | $57,510 | $61,600 | $52,210 | ||||
Top industries employing residential advisors
Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities employ 23.7% of residential advisors nationally (20,110 jobs) at a median $44,480 a year ($21.38 an hour), followed by Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (14.3%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (13.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities NAICS 623200 | 20,110 | 23.7% | $44,480 | $21.38 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services NAICS 624200 | 12,080 | 14.3% | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 11,380 | 13.4% | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| Individual and Family Services NAICS 624100 | 8,470 | 10.0% | $39,990 | $19.23 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities NAICS 623900 | 8,290 | 9.8% | $40,100 | $19.28 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (84,760). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $31,220 for residential advisors in May 2021 and $42,240 in May 2025, with employment of 92,500 and 84,760.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $31,220 | $15.01 | 92,500 |
| May 2022 | $35,720 | $17.17 | 86,770 |
| May 2023 | $37,950 | $18.25 | 88,700 |
| May 2024 | $39,180 | $18.84 | 82,810 |
| May 2025 | $42,240 | $20.31 | 84,760 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire profile | $23.56 | $49,010 | $32,940 | $69,990 | 420 | 0.62 | 1.14 |
| 2 | Minnesota profile | $23.45 | $48,770 | $41,270 | $60,220 | 3,410 | 1.16 | 2.12 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $23.38 | $48,640 | $39,500 | $64,560 | 1,810 | 0.51 | 0.94 |
| 4 | North Dakota profile | $23.36 | $48,590 | $35,900 | $62,850 | 260 | 0.62 | 1.13 |
| 5 | New York profile | $23.26 | $48,380 | $37,030 | $71,450 | 6,150 | 0.63 | 1.16 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $23.17 | $48,190 | $37,850 | $65,980 | 5,120 | 1.41 | 2.58 |
| 7 | Montana profile | $22.71 | $47,230 | $38,460 | $58,950 | 350 | 0.68 | 1.25 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $22.67 | $47,160 | $34,300 | $62,460 | 840 | 0.43 | 0.78 |
| 9 | Maryland profile | $22.57 | $46,950 | $32,720 | $61,780 | 2,640 | 0.96 | 1.75 |
| 10 | California profile | $22.43 | $46,650 | $35,150 | $70,370 | 8,120 | 0.45 | 0.82 |
| 11 | Alaska profile | $22.20 | $46,180 | $44,720 | $50,810 | 380 | 1.17 | 2.14 |
| 12 | Nebraska profile | $22.11 | $45,980 | $29,440 | $47,130 | 230 | 0.22 | 0.41 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $21.77 | $45,280 | $33,460 | $67,940 | 460 | 0.92 | 1.68 |
| 14 | Colorado profile | $21.51 | $44,750 | $36,400 | $59,050 | 760 | 0.26 | 0.48 |
| 15 | Vermont profile | $21.50 | $44,710 | $35,090 | $58,820 | 170 | 0.57 | 1.04 |
| 16 | Illinois profile | $21.22 | $44,130 | $35,090 | $58,790 | 2,720 | 0.45 | 0.82 |
| 17 | New Jersey profile | $21.10 | $43,880 | $36,550 | $77,100 | 1,630 | 0.38 | 0.70 |
| 18 | Maine profile | $21.05 | $43,780 | $38,950 | $58,090 | 640 | 1.00 | 1.83 |
| 19 | Connecticut profile | $20.97 | $43,620 | $38,580 | $59,580 | 1,250 | 0.74 | 1.36 |
| 20 | Virginia profile | $20.62 | $42,890 | $34,220 | $66,470 | 2,950 | 0.72 | 1.32 |
| 21 | Wisconsin profile | $20.04 | $41,690 | $30,090 | $46,910 | 1,190 | 0.41 | 0.74 |
| 22 | Arizona profile | $19.94 | $41,480 | $31,620 | $59,950 | 1,260 | 0.39 | 0.71 |
| 23 | Florida profile | $19.55 | $40,660 | $31,200 | $58,780 | 1,610 | 0.16 | 0.30 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania profile | $19.24 | $40,010 | $28,580 | $58,330 | 4,380 | 0.72 | 1.33 |
| 25 | Michigan profile | $19.10 | $39,730 | $32,540 | $53,830 | 1,770 | 0.40 | 0.74 |
| 26 | Georgia profile | $18.93 | $39,380 | $28,500 | $60,690 | 2,460 | 0.50 | 0.92 |
| 27 | Utah profile | $18.86 | $39,240 | $32,200 | $55,320 | 990 | 0.57 | 1.04 |
| 28 | North Carolina profile | $18.81 | $39,130 | $27,420 | $61,060 | 2,840 | 0.58 | 1.06 |
| 29 | Indiana profile | $18.68 | $38,850 | $27,760 | $59,120 | 1,360 | 0.42 | 0.78 |
| 30 | Nevada profile | $18.65 | $38,790 | $35,440 | $55,580 | 190 | 0.12 | 0.22 |
| 31 | Ohio profile | $18.55 | $38,590 | $28,390 | $50,710 | 3,070 | 0.55 | 1.02 |
| 32 | District of Columbia profile | $18.50 | $38,480 | $36,600 | $56,490 | 670 | 0.95 | 1.74 |
| 33 | South Dakota profile | $18.47 | $38,420 | $29,070 | $48,210 | 1,780 | 3.90 | 7.15 |
| 34 | Arkansas profile | $18.41 | $38,300 | $26,330 | $48,750 | 910 | 0.70 | 1.27 |
| 35 | Kansas profile | $18.11 | $37,680 | $24,880 | $60,520 | 510 | 0.35 | 0.65 |
| 36 | Texas profile | $18.09 | $37,630 | $28,750 | $58,660 | 3,630 | 0.26 | 0.47 |
| 37 | New Mexico profile | $18.05 | $37,540 | $31,220 | $53,030 | 590 | 0.67 | 1.24 |
| 38 | Idaho profile | $17.86 | $37,160 | $31,320 | $46,120 | 400 | 0.47 | 0.85 |
| 39 | Hawaii profile | $17.76 | $36,930 | $30,530 | $59,480 | 640 | 1.03 | 1.88 |
| 40 | Iowa profile | $17.72 | $36,850 | $31,090 | $49,780 | 780 | 0.50 | 0.92 |
| 41 | Missouri profile | $17.55 | $36,510 | $28,600 | $62,730 | 1,380 | 0.47 | 0.86 |
| 42 | South Carolina profile | $17.20 | $35,780 | $24,080 | $50,310 | 1,580 | 0.69 | 1.26 |
| 43 | Oklahoma profile | $17.02 | $35,390 | $22,690 | $46,150 | 1,060 | 0.62 | 1.14 |
| 44 | Tennessee profile | $16.68 | $34,700 | $27,930 | $49,830 | 2,360 | 0.72 | 1.32 |
| 45 | Delaware profile | $16.60 | $34,530 | $31,200 | $53,720 | 350 | 0.73 | 1.34 |
| 46 | Wyoming profile | $16.59 | $34,500 | $34,260 | $42,870 | ** | ** | ** |
| 47 | Louisiana profile | $16.25 | $33,800 | $21,450 | $58,520 | 420 | 0.22 | 0.40 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | $15.31 | $31,840 | $22,090 | $43,210 | 1,180 | 1.68 | 3.08 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $14.86 | $30,900 | $23,400 | $47,190 | 660 | 0.57 | 1.04 |
| 50 | Kentucky profile | $14.55 | $30,260 | $19,600 | $46,740 | 1,580 | 0.79 | 1.45 |
| 51 | Alabama profile | $13.29 | $27,650 | $22,550 | $37,880 | 2,570 | 1.22 | 2.23 |
Part of Personal Care and Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 39-9041 Residential Advisors.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 39-9041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 39-9041.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.