Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the updated resident assistant salaries across the United States as of 2026:
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California leads with the highest resident assistant salary at $34,915
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Louisiana has the lowest resident assistant salary at $21,559
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The national average salary for resident assistants is $29,971
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The national hourly wage for resident assistants is $14.41
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In every job survey conducted, salary remains the top priority for most individuals. Thus, many aspiring resident assistants often ask, “How much can I expect to earn in my area?”
While individual salaries can vary based on a range of factors, comprehensive data reflects the average salaries for resident assistants by state, categorized by experience level. Even though your local salary may diverge from the state average, these figures offer a sound estimate of what you may anticipate earning.
As of 2026, the state offering the best salary for resident assistants is California.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for resident assistant salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Resident Assistants By State
| Rank | State | Average Resident Assistant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $34,915 | $26,000 | $45,000 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $33,924 | $25,000 | $44,000 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $33,888 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 4 | Alaska | $32,819 | $27,000 | $39,000 |
| 5 | Oregon | $32,643 | $25,000 | $42,000 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $32,474 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $31,355 | $24,000 | $40,000 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $30,830 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 9 | Washington | $30,485 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $30,410 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 11 | Delaware | $30,016 | $22,000 | $40,000 |
| 12 | Maine | $29,815 | $24,000 | $36,000 |
| 13 | Idaho | $29,815 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $29,501 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 15 | New York | $29,300 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $29,148 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 17 | Colorado | $29,045 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $28,945 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 19 | Arizona | $28,813 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 20 | Illinois | $28,753 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 21 | Maryland | $28,483 | $20,000 | $38,000 |
| 22 | Nevada | $28,429 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $28,395 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $28,257 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 25 | Vermont | $27,860 | $22,000 | $34,000 |
| 26 | Kansas | $27,776 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 27 | Iowa | $27,751 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 28 | Indiana | $26,928 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $26,791 | $19,000 | $36,000 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $26,752 | $23,000 | $30,000 |
| 31 | Ohio | $26,567 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 32 | Michigan | $26,379 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 33 | Missouri | $26,141 | $19,000 | $34,000 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $26,041 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 35 | Virginia | $25,625 | $18,000 | $34,000 |
| 36 | Texas | $25,533 | $18,000 | $34,000 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $25,482 | $19,000 | $34,000 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $25,465 | $18,000 | $34,000 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $25,237 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 40 | Montana | $25,125 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 41 | Utah | $24,870 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $24,800 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $24,573 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 44 | Florida | $24,434 | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $24,410 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $23,267 | $17,000 | $31,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $22,835 | $16,000 | $30,000 |
| 48 | Alabama | $22,702 | $16,000 | $30,000 |
| 49 | Georgia | $21,689 | $16,000 | $29,000 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $21,559 | $15,000 | $29,000 |
Methodology: Resident Assistant Salary By State
To gain insight into resident assistant salaries by state, Zippia aggregated data from multiple sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We complemented this data with actual salaries from job postings. The data science team then calculated a weighted average to determine the average salary for resident assistants by state.
We analyzed the average annual salary data for resident assistants based on these estimates, ranking states according to their average salaries.
Resident Assistant Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for resident assistants?
The highest-paid state for resident assistants is California with an average salary of $34,915 per year.
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What city pays resident assistants the most?
Roseville, CA offers the highest pay for resident assistants at an average salary of $35,909 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for resident assistants?
The state with the lowest salary for resident assistants is Louisiana with an average of $21,559 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
