Social Services
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.
Median salary (BLS)
$42,240
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$30k – $61k
Job outlook
+4% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $87,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Residential Advisors
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Residential Advisors
Entry / Junior
$29,870
~2 yrs to advance
Residential Advisors
Established
$42,240
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Residential Advisors
Senior
$51,650
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Social Services
Explore all- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
- University of Chicago5% admit · $91,000 grad pay
- Columbia University4% admit · $103,000 grad pay
- University of Wisconsin–Madison49% admit · $72,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.