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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

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$8,200–$23,000

Time to qualify

3 yr

Renewal

$75/yr

  1. 1

    Associate degree (community college)

    Degree

    Two years at in-district rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $4,050/yr, plus ~$1,200/yr books & supplies.

    $8,000–$22,000 · 2 years source

  2. 2

    State license — supervised hours + exam

    License

    Most counseling and social-work roles (LCSW/LPC pattern) require supervised experience hours and a state exam.

    $200–$1,000 · 12 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Residential Advisors" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Residential Advisors

    Entry / Junior

    $29,870

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Residential Advisors

    Established

    $42,240

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. 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

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.