How to hire a resident aide

How to hire a resident aide, step by step

Here's a step-by-step resident aide hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a resident aide job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new resident aide
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your resident aide job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a resident aide for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A resident aide's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, resident aides from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of resident aides and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Resident Aide	Description	Hourly rate
   Resident Aide	Home health aides help people with disabilities, chronic illness, or cognitive impairment with activities of daily living. They often help older adults who need assistance... Show more	$9-14
   Sitter	A sitter is responsible for assisting medical needs under the supervision of an attending physician, registered nurses, and other health professionals. Sitters monitor the patients' daily activities and perform medical duties such as taking the patient's temperature, administering medications, monitoring food intake, helping with bathing needs, and responding to the patients' inquiries, concerns, and requests... Show more	$9-18
   Companion	A companion is responsible for assisting sick and recovered patients, as well as the elderly. Companions perform housekeeping duties, ensuring that a facility is well-maintained and safe for the use of the patients... Show more	$10-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Assist Residents
   • Resident Care
   • Vital Signs
   • Meal Prep
   • CPR
   • Incontinence Care
   • Quality Care
   • ADL
   • Administer Medications
   • Direct Care
   • Blood Pressure
   • Patient Care
   • Oral Hygiene

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Promote continuity of care by accurately and completely communicating to other caregivers the status of patients for which care is provided.
   • Assist residents with everyday activities such as dressing, cooking, cleaning, changing of bedpans and assisting with restroom visits

   More resident aide duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your resident aide job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A resident aide salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, resident aides' average salary in alabama is 33% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level resident aides earn 39% less than senior-level resident aides.
   • Certifications. A resident aide with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a resident aide's salary.

   Average resident aide salary

   $11.98hourly

   $24,921 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level resident aide salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average resident aide salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$29,570	$14
   2	Oregon	$25,893	$12
   3	Minnesota	$25,830	$12
   4	Illinois	$24,896	$12
   5	South Dakota	$24,533	$12
   6	Michigan	$24,398	$12
   7	California	$23,043	$11
   8	Iowa	$22,968	$11
   9	Ohio	$22,952	$11
   10	North Carolina	$22,690	$11
   11	Florida	$22,562	$11
   12	Texas	$21,814	$10

   Average resident aide salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Asante	$28,843	$13.87	1
   2	Bassett Healthcare Network	$28,466	$13.69	17
   3	McLaren Health Care	$28,444	$13.68	42
   4	Diversified Medical Staffing	$27,591	$13.26
   5	Northbridge Communities	$27,455	$13.20	15
   6	Hearth	$26,707	$12.84
   7	Sonida Senior Living	$26,694	$12.83	124
   8	Common Sail Investment Group	$26,539	$12.76
   9	New Era	$26,401	$12.69
   10	North Ridge Health and Rehab	$26,318	$12.65
   11	Providence Life Services	$26,189	$12.59	24
   12	All Medical Personnel	$26,087	$12.54
   13	Barrier Free Living	$26,079	$12.54	3
   14	Meridian Bank	$26,043	$12.52
   15	Five Star Senior Living	$25,904	$12.45	4
   16	Bethany Village	$25,829	$12.42	8
   17	Byron Center PS	$25,654	$12.33	1
   18	Community Missions of Niagara Frontier	$25,377	$12.20
   19	Acacia Network	$25,203	$12.12	7
   20	Iowa State Association of Counties	$25,151	$12.09

4. Writing a resident aide job description

   A resident aide job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a resident aide job description:

   Resident aide job description example

   **$450 SIGN ON BONUS** NEW PAY RATES! We lead the market in compensation. Stay Bonuses for Full and Part-time Associates! Twin Lakes (Life Enriching Communities) in Cincinnati located at 9840 Montgomery Road is seeking a Resident Aide Full-time 7:00am-7:15pm or 7:00 pm - 7:15am, every other weekend. We also have shift differentials: $1.50- 2nd shift, $1.00- 3rd shift, $.85- Weekend! We have great Benefits! Full-time associates enjoy PTO (paid time off) / EIB (extended illness bank) benefits based on hours worked, Health, Life and Disability Insurance, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, participation in our 403(b) retirement program with 3% match, an Employee Assistance Program, use of our fitness facility for free and you can earn $ towards tuition in College, University or Career Technical Training Programs. We are a drug-free and tobacco-free workplace.

   • Do you strive to provide excellence in resident nursing care?
   • Are you a team player?
   • Do you enjoy working with a variety of people and consistently treat others with respect and compassion?
   • Does your experience include being a STNA in a Long Term Care setting? If so, we’d love to talk with you!

   Duties include but, are not limited to:• Participates in report upon the start and end of each shift • Performs all job responsibilities in accordance with prescribed safety and infection control procedures including thorough hand washing, use of disposable gloves where indicated, and proper disposal of soiled materials• Assists residents with activities of daily living which include bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and mobility/ambulation. • Provide menu choice tickets/collect tickets, assists dining staff with serving meals and with creating an exceptional dining experience for the residents• Launders residents’ belongings • Admissions, transfers and discharge functions as assigned by supervisor• Other duties, as assigned by Nurse or member of Nursing leadership Required Education and Experience • High School Diploma or equivalent preferred• Previous experience in a continuing care retirement community or hospital preferred• Must possess a customer service background and orientation
   Life Enriching Communities is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace and to compliance with the applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Hannaford
   Company DescriptionCareers in aging have transformed over the past several decades – we’re looking for team members who are interested in being a part of this evolving workforce! Focusing on living and aging well, adopting technologies that improve the experience of residents and associates, and creating an environment that embraces personal growth is what sets us apart.
   
   If you’re interested in making an impact on the lives of those who live and work in our communities, we welcome you to explore the diverse range of career options available with us.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find resident aides for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your resident aide job on Zippia to find and recruit resident aide candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting resident aides requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new resident aide

   Once you've selected the best resident aide candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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