Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between advising assistants and residential assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an advising assistant and a residential assistant. Additionally, an advising assistant has an average salary of $42,453, which is higher than the $30,918 average annual salary of a residential assistant.
The top three skills for an advising assistant include financial aid, customer service and scheduling appointments. The most important skills for a residential assistant are direct care, developmental disabilities, and mental health.
| Advising Assistant | Residential Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $42,453 | $30,918 |
| Hourly rate | $20.41 | $14.86 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 15,603 | 91,326 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An advising assistant works with school or university counselors, with a primary focus on students' mental welfare. Their responsibilities are to document sessions with patients, provide clerical assistance, and assist with psychological assessments. This position preferably requires a degree in psychology. Strong communication and organization skills are also necessary.
A residential assistant is in charge of overseeing the living conditions of students in a university or similar establishment. They are primarily responsible for assisting students and making them feel at ease within the dormitory or campus community. Moreover, a residential assistant must respond to inquiries and concerns, handle and settle any issues or problems, take part in organizing activities that are beneficial to the students, and keep them informed on all community-related updates. Furthermore, it is crucial to adhere to and implement the campus rules and regulations at all times, maintaining a safe environment for everyone.
Advising assistants and residential assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Advising Assistant | Residential Assistant | |
| Average salary | $42,453 | $30,918 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $69,000 | Between $25,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | University of California |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between an advising assistant and a residential assistant in terms of educational background:
| Advising Assistant | Residential Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between advising assistants' and residential assistants' demographics:
| Advising Assistant | Residential Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 7.2% White, 51.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 7.1% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |