Residential Advisors: Salary Overview
Residential advisors coordinate activities in group homes, college dormitories, or similar establishments.
Their job description typically also includes ordering supplies and determining if there’s a need for maintenance, repairs, and furnishings.
They may also maintain records, assign rooms, and assist residents with their problems or refer them to counseling resources.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for residential advisors was $29,450 as of May 2019 which means that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount and half earned more.
This means that most residential advisors in the U.S. earn less than the national average for all professions (which in 2019 was above $39,810 per year, according to BLS).
Salaries for residential advisors vary depending on the industry of employment, education, and experience level, among other factors.
The lowest 10 percent reportedly made less than $20,600 as of May 2019 while the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,640 annually.
The 25th percentile for the salary distribution was $24,310 which means that 75 percent of all workers in this occupation earned more than this.
Residential Advisor Salary by Industry
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industry with the highest level of employment for this occupation were residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities.
In this sector, residential advisors made $30,910 per year, on average.
Residential advisors who worked for other residential care facilities made $30,230 per year, on average while those who work for companies in the community food and housing, and emergency and other relief services reportedly made $30,430 per year on average.
The average annual wage was $34,020 for residential advisors who worked for colleges, universities, and professional schools and $30,540 for those in the field of individual and family services.
The highest-paying field for this profession was the management of companies and enterprises sector where the average annual wage reported by residential advisors was $38,830.
The second-highest average wage was reported by residential advisors employed by local governments.
Residential advisors who worked for local governments reportedly made $36,830 per year as of May 2019.
Residential advisors also held jobs in rooming and boarding houses, vocational rehabilitation services, religious organizations, and other schools and instruction.
The average annual wage reported by those who work in the field of vocational rehabilitation services was $30,090 as of May 2019.
Rooming and boarding houses paid residential advisors with $31,630 per year, on average.
Bonuses, Commissions, and Other Benefits
Salaries for residential advisors also vary depending on the salary package.
Some residential advisors receive a fixed wage that is paid weekly or monthly while others are paid based on an hourly rate and in this case, their total earnings also vary depending on the number of hours worked.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly rate for this profession was $14.16 as of May 2019 but rates also vary between less than $9.90 and more than 22.42, depending on experience level, education, and industry of employment, among other factors.
Some residential advisors also receive bonuses which can sum up to $800 per year, on average, according to payscale.com
The majority of residential advisors also received medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Salaries by State
Salaries also vary depending on the state and the region of employment.
The top-paying state for this profession in 2019 was the District of Columbia, where the average annual wage was $42,680.
Other top-paying states for residential advisors are Minnesota, New Jersey, Alaska, and Nebraska.
In these states, the reported salaries averaged at more than $37,000 per year.
Residential advisors in Mississippi, on the other hand, reportedly earned less than $23,460 per year on average.
Other states where salaries were below the national average for this profession are New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Missouri, and South Dakota.
* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Residential Advisors. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.