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The Assistant Resident Director position is essential in higher education, primarily focusing on student affairs and residential life management. As of October 2025, the average salary for this role is $51,628 per year, which translates to approximately $25 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific institution. For example, states like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Entry-level Assistant Resident Directors may start at a lower salary, while those with several years of experience can see significant increases. In addition to salary, many institutions offer benefits, including health insurance and retirement plans, which can enhance overall compensation.
As an Assistant Resident Director, you will not only manage residential operations but also create engaging programs that foster community among students. This role provides a pathway to advanced positions within student affairs and higher education administration. If you are passionate about supporting student success, this career could be a rewarding choice.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level assistant resident director | $35,800 | $17.22 |
| Mid-level assistant resident director | $50,900 | $24.45 |
| Senior-level assistant resident director | $58,400 | $28.07 |
The highest-paying states for assistant resident directors are New York, California, and Connecticut. The lowest average assistant resident director salary states are Utah, Missouri, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $69,581 | $33.45 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $73,786 | $35.47 |
| 3 | Maryland | $63,448 | $30.50 |
| 4 | California | $66,078 | $31.77 |
| 5 | Nevada | $61,804 | $29.71 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $55,754 | $26.80 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $66,019 | $31.74 |
| 8 | Arkansas | $51,425 | $24.72 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $59,848 | $28.77 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $53,875 | $25.90 |
| 11 | Virginia | $58,877 | $28.31 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $53,676 | $25.81 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $62,345 | $29.97 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $59,814 | $28.76 |
| 15 | Texas | $58,117 | $27.94 |
| 16 | Illinois | $56,489 | $27.16 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $50,487 | $24.27 |
| 18 | Iowa | $50,284 | $24.18 |
| 19 | Michigan | $48,798 | $23.46 |
| 20 | Oregon | $52,916 | $25.44 |
| 21 | Maine | $56,116 | $26.98 |
| 22 | Delaware | $56,659 | $27.24 |
| 23 | Alaska | $50,423 | $24.24 |
| 24 | Ohio | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $48,546 | $23.34 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $54,514 | $26.21 |
| 27 | Indiana | $47,836 | $23.00 |
| 28 | Idaho | $48,905 | $23.51 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $45,481 | $21.87 |
| 30 | Kansas | $50,613 | $24.33 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $45,858 | $22.05 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $44,094 | $21.20 |
| 33 | Colorado | $47,755 | $22.96 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $44,235 | $21.27 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $51,217 | $24.62 |
| 36 | Arizona | $48,228 | $23.19 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $46,730 | $22.47 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $41,080 | $19.75 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $51,656 | $24.83 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $42,105 | $20.24 |
| 41 | Alabama | $43,103 | $20.72 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $49,210 | $23.66 |
| 43 | Vermont | $49,832 | $23.96 |
| 44 | Washington | $45,415 | $21.83 |
| 45 | Florida | $45,436 | $21.84 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $43,115 | $20.73 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $44,270 | $21.28 |
| 48 | Georgia | $41,429 | $19.92 |
| 49 | Missouri | $42,541 | $20.45 |
| 50 | Utah | $42,626 | $20.49 |
| 51 | Montana | $42,465 | $20.42 |
The highest-paying cities for assistant resident directors are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Santa Barbara, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $73,838 | $35.50 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $69,780 | $33.55 |
| 3 | Santa Barbara, CA | $66,292 | $31.87 |
| 4 | Torrington, CT | $65,628 | $31.55 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $63,820 | $30.68 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $60,695 | $29.18 |
| 7 | Hampton, VA | $59,068 | $28.40 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $58,946 | $28.34 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $56,743 | $27.28 |
| 10 | Dover, DE | $56,508 | $27.17 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $53,473 | $25.71 |
| 12 | Harrisburg, PA | $53,089 | $25.52 |
| 13 | New Bedford, MA | $52,266 | $25.13 |
| 14 | Fairbanks, AK | $50,128 | $24.10 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,547 | $23.34 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,666 | $22.92 |
| 17 | Bellingham, WA | $45,862 | $22.05 |
| 18 | Smyrna, TN | $44,298 | $21.30 |
| 19 | Montgomery, AL | $43,148 | $20.74 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $42,592 | $20.48 |
An assistant resident director's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $76,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $51,628 | $4,302 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
The highest paying types of assistant resident directors are resident services director, resident, and liaison.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advocate | $39,497 | $3,291 | $18.99 | 74,970 |
| Liaison | $53,737 | $4,478 | $25.84 | 34,074 |
| Service Worker | $30,045 | $2,504 | $14.44 | 103,584 |
| Program Coordinator | $45,068 | $3,756 | $21.67 | 102,464 |
| Service Coordinator | $40,792 | $3,399 | $19.61 | 55,922 |
| Coordinator | $41,599 | $3,467 | $20.00 | 151,508 |
Top companies hiring assistant resident directors now:
Assistant resident director salaries at Regis College and Community Health Network are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average assistant resident director salary at companies like Western Washington University and Northbridge Communities are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regis College | $65,449 | $31.47 |
| 2 | Community Health Network | $59,923 | $28.81 |
| 3 | Western Washington University | $57,225 | $27.51 |
| 4 | Northbridge Communities | $56,109 | $26.98 |
| 5 | Pace University | $55,122 | $26.50 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $54,056 | $25.99 |
| 7 | Century Park Associates | $54,036 | $25.98 |
| 8 | Watermark Retirement Communities | $53,980 | $25.95 |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University | $53,966 | $25.95 |
| 10 | University of Alaska | $52,146 | $25.07 |
| 11 | Commonwealth Senior Living | $47,958 | $23.06 |
| 12 | Five Star Senior Living | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| 13 | Berklee College of Music | $45,774 | $22.01 |
| 14 | MSU Northern | $45,131 | $21.70 |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin System | $43,658 | $20.99 |
| 16 | Coastal Carolina University | $40,670 | $19.55 |
The average assistant resident director salary has risen by $10,366 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average assistant resident director earned $41,262 annually, but today, they earn $51,628 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for assistant resident directors over the last decade.
Compare assistant resident director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare assistant resident director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,600 | $24.82 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $50,300 | $24.20 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $48,500 | $23.30 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $47,600 | $22.86 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $45,700 | $21.96 | +3.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tapestry Senior Living | Assistant Director of Resident Services | Coraopolis, PA | 06/22/2025 | $70,958 |
| Eskaton Careers | Assistant Resident Care Director (Sun-Thurs) | Pleasanton, CA | 06/21/2025 | $53,406 |
| Pace University | Assistant Residence Director | New York, NY | 06/18/2025 | $35,479 |
| Seven Hills Foundation | Assistant Residence Director | Worcester, MA | 06/18/2025 | $46,958 |
| Seven Hills Foundation | Assistant Residence Director | Smithfield, RI | 06/04/2025 | $48,001 |
| The Aspenwood Company-Spring Creek Village | Assistant Director of Resident Care (LVN) | Spring, TX | 05/27/2025 | $70,000 |
| Progress Foundation | Assistant Director-Dore Residence | San Francisco, CA | 05/23/2025 | $69,396 |
| Seven Hills Foundation | Assistant Residence Director | Woonsocket, RI | 05/22/2025 | $48,001 |
| Wyndemere | Resident Assistant Caregiver | Batavia, IL | 05/21/2025 | $31,305 |
| Wyndemere | Resident Assistant Caregiver | Bensenville, IL | 05/21/2025 | $31,305 |
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