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Director of community life vs residential manager

The differences between directors of community life and residential managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a director of community life and a residential manager. Additionally, a director of community life has an average salary of $54,540, which is higher than the $39,112 average annual salary of a residential manager.

The top three skills for a director of community life include leadership development, community life and student organizations. The most important skills for a residential manager are developmental disabilities, oversight, and incident reports.

Director of community life vs residential manager overview

Director Of Community LifeResidential Manager
Yearly salary$54,540$39,112
Hourly rate$26.22$18.80
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs31,44511,464
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

What does a director of community life do?

A director of community life spearheads and oversees living facilities' daily operations, usually for the seniors or those in need of medical assistance. They are responsible for setting objectives and guidelines, establishing timelines and budgets, and developing community projects and programs to support the residents' physical and emotional health. They also liaise with internal and external parties to coordinate services for the residents, resolving issues should arise. Moreover, a director of community life leads and oversees staff while implementing policies and regulations to improve the community's health and safety.

What does a residential manager do?

A residential manager coordinates and oversees all activities that happen in a residential building. They work with their employers to market their apartments and ensure all the occupants qualify to be in the building. They are often the face of the building and also manage the financials of the residential building. Their duties and responsibilities include marketing the building, encouraging tenants, and keeping financial records of all property operations.

Director of community life vs residential manager salary

Directors of community life and residential managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Director Of Community LifeResidential Manager
Average salary$54,540$39,112
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $89,000Between $29,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City-Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-The Kennedy Center Inc.
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between director of community life and residential manager education

There are a few differences between a director of community life and a residential manager in terms of educational background:

Director Of Community LifeResidential Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Director of community life vs residential manager demographics

Here are the differences between directors of community life' and residential managers' demographics:

Director Of Community LifeResidential Manager
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 53.0% Female, 47.0%Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 5.2% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage14%14%

Differences between director of community life and residential manager duties and responsibilities

Director of community life example responsibilities.

  • Manage admission, referral and educational activities for primary care patients treat by mobile medical services van.
  • Develop tools to identify patients with reduce access to health care and implement procedures to increase enrollment in critical programming.
  • Organize and implement bible studies for teen boys and teen girls.

Residential manager example responsibilities.

  • Participate in all IHP/IPP meetings; ensure group home staff helps residents achieve IHP goals and continually monitor progress make.
  • Manage daily operation of residential group home and over see staff, client programming, activities, and residential ADL's.
  • Manage a residential facility for adolescents with severe autism and psychiatric conditions.
  • Facilitate weekly/biweekly meetings with house coordinators, community agencies to provide services.
  • Help integrate the behavior modification milieu with DBT.
  • Develop and implement learning programs for residents with autism, schizophrenia, and other mental disabilities.
  • Show more

Director of community life vs residential manager skills

Common director of community life skills
  • Leadership Development, 97%
  • Community Life, 0%
  • Student Organizations, 0%
  • Conflict Resolution, 0%
  • Student Development, 0%
  • Residential Life, 0%
Common residential manager skills
  • Developmental Disabilities, 12%
  • Oversight, 7%
  • Incident Reports, 5%
  • Foster Care, 5%
  • Autism, 5%
  • Adaptive, 4%

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