Occupation · SOC 39-9041
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 wage
$39,180
$28,490–$58,350
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
82,810
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
73 mapped
Core skills
Social PerceptivenessActive ListeningSpeakingMonitoringCoordinationTime ManagementService OrientationNegotiationCritical ThinkingPersuasionReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingWritingActive LearningManagement of Personnel ResourcesInstructingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisLearning StrategiesManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringOperations AnalysisMathematicsTechnology DesignTroubleshootingOperation and ControlScienceProgrammingRepairingInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementPublic Safety and SecurityEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguageSociology and AnthropologyAdministrativePersonnel and Human ResourcesTherapy and CounselingPsychologyCommunications and MediaComputers and ElectronicsLaw and GovernmentTelecommunicationsMedicine and DentistryTransportationEconomics and AccountingPhilosophy and TheologyFood ProductionMathematicsProduction and ProcessingDesignSales and MarketingMechanicalEngineering and TechnologyForeign LanguageFine ArtsGeographyBuilding and ConstructionBiologyHistory and ArcheologyChemistryPhysics
Technology & tools
Budgeting softwareEmail softwareGoogle DocsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordSurvey softwareWeb browser softwareWebsite development softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsGetting InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsDocumenting/Recording InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesProcessing InformationResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsDeveloping and Building TeamsWorking with ComputersCoaching and Developing OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesTraining and Teaching OthersThinking CreativelyUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeoplePerforming General Physical ActivitiesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsStaffing Organizational UnitsSelling or Influencing OthersOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Dormitory rounds — conduct scheduled walkthroughs under supervisor direction to verify resident safety and secure common areas in a residential hall setting.Unusual resident behavior — recognize and report observable warning signs to senior staff during routine monitoring shifts.Facility maintenance needs — identify and document basic repair or safety issues in residence hall spaces and notify appropriate maintenance personnel as directed.Residence hall rules and regulations — apply established conduct policies under direct supervision to support orderly dormitory operations.Emergency first aid procedures — perform basic first-aid techniques and contact medical assistance when a resident health incident occurs on shift.Interpersonal conflicts between residents — assist a senior advisor in gathering information from involved parties during early-stage mediation sessions.Electronic mail software — use email tools to communicate routine updates and resident concerns to supervisory staff in a residence life office.Active listening skills — demonstrate attentive and nonjudgmental listening when residents present personal concerns during walk-in conversations.Word processing software — draft basic incident reports and resident communications using standard office word processing tools.Shift handover information — relay accurate observations about resident behavior and facility status to oncoming staff at the end of each duty period.
developing
Regular safety rounds — conduct and log nightly rounds independently, adapting patrol timing to address known high-risk periods in a multi-floor residence hall.Resident behavioral concerns — observe, document, and communicate patterns of unusual student behavior to student affairs staff with minimal supervisor prompting.Interpersonal disputes — mediate low-to-moderate resident conflicts by facilitating structured conversations and reaching mutually agreed resolutions in a dormitory setting.Conduct policy enforcement — apply residence hall rules consistently and explain rationale to residents, using judgment to distinguish minor infractions from policy violations requiring escalation.Resident assistant coordination — coordinate scheduling and daily task assignments for resident assistant staff during a building supervisor's absence.Emergency response protocols — execute first-aid response and emergency notification procedures independently during on-call duty hours in a residential facility.Spreadsheet software — maintain resident rosters, incident logs, and duty schedules using spreadsheet tools in a residence life administrative environment.Staff communication — collaborate with other residential advisors and student affairs staff via email and team meetings to resolve recurring individual student concerns.Time management across competing priorities — balance proactive resident engagement, administrative documentation, and facility monitoring tasks within a single duty shift.Maintenance request tracking — assess facility issues, submit formal work orders, and follow up with facilities personnel to ensure timely resolution in a campus residence hall.
proficient
Comprehensive resident oversight — autonomously manage all aspects of safety, conduct, and resident well-being across an entire residence hall building throughout the academic year.Complex interpersonal mediation — facilitate resolution of multi-party or escalating resident conflicts, applying negotiation strategies and drawing on knowledge of counseling principles.Staff supervision and evaluation — supervise, train, and formally evaluate resident assistants and work-study student staff, delivering constructive performance feedback in a residence life program.Non-routine behavioral incidents — assess ambiguous or high-risk resident situations, exercise independent judgment to determine appropriate institutional and emergency responses.Policy interpretation and application — interpret nuanced conduct policy scenarios, apply consistent and equitable enforcement decisions, and document outcomes in compliance with institutional standards.Crisis first-response coordination — lead on-site emergency response, coordinate with campus security and medical services, and brief administrators on incidents occurring in residential facilities.Presentation software and reporting tools — produce data-driven residential program reports and staff training materials using office suite and presentation software for department review.Cross-departmental collaboration — partner with counseling, academic affairs, and facilities departments to address systemic student welfare or facility concerns affecting the residence community.Resident programming — design and evaluate educational and community-building programs that address documented social and developmental needs of a residential student population.Analytical problem solving — apply critical thinking and inductive reasoning to identify root causes of recurring behavioral or operational problems and implement evidence-informed solutions.
advanced
Residence life program strategy — set departmental vision, policies, and priorities for a multi-building residential advisors team aligned with institutional student affairs goals.Staff development system — design and lead comprehensive training, mentorship, and professional development programs for all residential advisor and resident assistant staff across a campus.Institutional policy development — author or substantially revise residence hall conduct policies, emergency protocols, and community standards documents adopted organization-wide.Organizational performance evaluation — establish and monitor key performance indicators for residential program safety, staff effectiveness, and resident satisfaction, reporting findings to senior leadership.Cross-campus crisis leadership — serve as primary decision-maker during complex, multi-resident emergency or behavioral crises, coordinating institutional resources and communicating with executive stakeholders.Budget and resource management — develop and oversee the residence life operational budget, allocating staffing, technology, and facilities resources to maximize program impact.Diversity and inclusion strategy — lead organizational initiatives to foster inclusive residential communities, embedding equity principles into hiring, training, and resident programming at scale.External partnerships and compliance — manage relationships with accrediting bodies, local emergency services, and community organizations, ensuring programmatic compliance with regulatory and institutional requirements.Data-informed decision making — commission and interpret analytical reports on incident trends, staff performance, and resident outcomes to drive continuous improvement across the residence life division.Institutional representation and advocacy — represent the residential advisors program in senior administrative forums, influencing campus-wide student welfare policy and resource allocation decisions.
Also known as
40 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Cottage ParentCottage SupervisorDormitory CounselorDormitory SupervisorHall CoordinatorHall DirectorHouse FatherHouse MotherHouse ParentHousefellowHousing and Residence Life DirectorHousing AssistantHousing DirectorResidence DirectorResidence Hall DirectorResidence Life CoordinatorResidence Life DirectorResidence SupervisorResident AdvisorResident AideResident AssistantResident Care AssistantResident DirectorResident Life DirectorResident MonitorResidential AdvisorResidential AideResidential AssistantResidential CoordinatorResidential CounselorResidential DirectorResidential InstructorResidential Life DirectorResidential Service CoordinatorResidential Services SpecialistResidential SpecialistResidential Support SpecialistSorority MotherSorority SupervisorStudent Development Coordinator