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What is a resident aide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Jeanne Martin PhD, MSN, RN, CNE
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a resident aide. For example, did you know that they make an average of $11.98 an hour? That's $24,921 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 36% and produce 1,185,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a resident aide?

Jeanne Martin PhD, MSN, RN, CNE

Clinical Associate Professor

First I tell them they are more prepared for practice than they think they are. They need to give themselves a measure of patience and grace that they will not know a lot of things when they begin. I stress that they need to get adept at asking lot of questions, so they understand the “why’s: of what they are doing vs. just being task oriented. This develops their clinical reasoning and decision making skills. All of our graduates enter into Nurse Residency programs at their various facilities. These programs are designed to take graduates from a myriad of nursing schools and help them solidify the core components of nursing school. These residency programs and unit orientation programs ensure a new graduate is ready to take care of the patients on their specific units.
ScoreResident AideUS Average
Salary
1.9

Avg. Salary $24,921

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.7

Growth rate 36%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.11%

Asian 10.47%

Black or African American 23.99%

Hispanic or Latino 23.41%

Unknown 5.40%

White 35.62%

Gender

female 86.64%

male 13.36%

Age - 51
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 51
Stress level
7.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
9.6

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Resident aide career paths

Key steps to become a resident aide

  1. Explore resident aide education requirements

    Most common resident aide degrees

    High School Diploma

    37.3 %

    Associate

    18.6 %

    Bachelor's

    17.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific resident aide skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients15.35%
    Assist Residents10.66%
    Resident Care9.84%
    Vital Signs7.87%
    Meal Prep7.85%
  3. Complete relevant resident aide training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New resident aides learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a resident aide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real resident aide resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed resident aide usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed resident aide in most of states. 25 states require resident aides to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    StateEducationExamLicense url
    AlaskaDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredNurse Aide
    ArkansasSpecific course requiredBoth state and third-party exams requiredNursing Assistant (Certified)
    CaliforniaSpecific course requiredState exam requiredCertified Nurse Assistant
    ColoradoSpecific course requiredState exam requiredNurse Aide
    ConnecticutSpecific course requiredState exam requiredNurses Aide
  5. Gain additional resident aide certifications

    Resident aide certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific resident aide certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for resident aides include Medical Assistant and Advanced First Aid & CPR.

    More About Certifications
  6. Research resident aide duties and responsibilities

    • Recognize by physicians for ability to meticulously prepare patient's chest and attach leads to obtain excellent quality EKG tracings.
    • Assist residents according their individual ADL requirements.
    • Transport patients to and from different off-site facilities whether secular or medically relate.
    • Assist residents who have been diagnose with autism, intellectual/developmental disabilities and acquire brain injury with daily activities.
  7. Prepare your resident aide resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your resident aide resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a resident aide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable resident aide resume templates

    Build a professional resident aide resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your resident aide resume.
    Resident Aide Resume
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  8. Apply for resident aide jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a resident aide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first resident aide job

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Average resident aide salary

The average resident aide salary in the United States is $24,921 per year or $12 per hour. Resident aide salaries range between $19,000 and $31,000 per year.

Average resident aide salary
$24,921 Yearly
$11.98 hourly

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How do resident aides rate their job?

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Resident aide reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2023
Pros

Very fulfilling and rewarding

Cons

Hard work, not enough staff, mandated a lot. Under appreciated!


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

The ability to show care, love & compassion to those whom have none or family can't give time to show any. It's like being the missing piece to a puzzle we all if lucky enough get to live long enough to experience. It's making someones day by just remembering to watch their hands and face before/ after meals. To give proper attention to teeth, to let dressing am or pm still br a choice they make. I know im a good human with an oversized caring heart and although sometimes its exhausting working extra hrs or having to do all or extra work on short staffed days it's worth it. And slow and steady wins the day. They are people whom have gone through & experienced more then we will ever get too.

Cons

All the changes with certification and how you can be on the floor of a facility and know not even common sense. How they have hospitality aides, hca, and people going to start a free class. Back in the day we were called glorified babysitters I never agreed until we have just a warm body with no license(s) whom can't do anything even as small as getting ice waters. I've worked hard tobe where i am and these people take a computer class and pass we would call that our continuing education hrs but what do i know after 23 yrs. I once REALLY loved my job and still do but it's almost like being in grade school with people who have phone's lol It bothers me that many new or non licensed bodies have the audacity to come in these facilities and act like the residents are on their time! We are in their home to help provide ADL's amongst other things like them still trying to be & keep their independence. The ridiculous amount they have to spend to have the care they get from some people makes me wanna die young!! Our system sucks unless its the government making the dollar. I just wish they'd spend an 8 hr shift in these facilities before signing off on some rules & regs. Im not political by any means but those who take the dollar should get to live and experience a day of what our elderly lived ones are forced to experience daily , monthly, yearly! In fact the state hasn't even done the 18 month annual expectation in over 2 yrs at the place im contracted at 👍way to keep up on stuff and by stuff I mean our elderly living human beans. People who deserve to be served on gold plates or at least gave better food then what they serve daycares and if not that at least for it to be at high minimum warm food !! In 23 yrs of being a CNA I can only try to write a book to get out all the things I've seen ,heard. & witnessed in the years.


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2022
Pros

Not training

Cons

Sweatpants women an jeans 👖 for men long sleeve shirt 👕 on the time


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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