Best cities for a resident assistant
The best cities for resident assistants are Madison, WI, Minneapolis, MN, and Saint Paul, MN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for resident assistants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for resident assistants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a resident assistant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for resident assistants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for resident assistants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a resident assistant. While the absolute best city for resident assistants is Madison, WI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for resident assistants in 2024.
If you're looking for a resident assistant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for resident assistants in 2025
1. Madison, WI
Resident assistant jobs in MadisonTotal resident assistant jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $29,297 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location quotient: 3.88 2. Minneapolis, MN
Resident assistant jobs in MinneapolisTotal resident assistant jobs: 101 Average annual salary: $30,808 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 4.84 3. Saint Paul, MN
Resident assistant jobs in Saint PaulTotal resident assistant jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $30,805 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 2.16 4. Oakland, CA
Resident assistant jobs in OaklandTotal resident assistant jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $36,018 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location quotient: 1.32 5. Fort Wayne, IN
Total resident assistant jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $27,219 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location quotient: 6.21 6. Fresno, CA
Resident assistant jobs in FresnoTotal resident assistant jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $35,431 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 1.61 7. Portland, OR
Resident assistant jobs in PortlandTotal resident assistant jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $32,672 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 0.64 8. Toledo, OH
Resident assistant jobs in ToledoTotal resident assistant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $26,956 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location quotient: 1.22 9. Las Vegas, NV
Resident assistant jobs in Las VegasTotal resident assistant jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $28,243 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location quotient: 0.38 10. Milwaukee, WI
Resident assistant jobs in MilwaukeeTotal resident assistant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $29,335 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location quotient: 0.09
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Best cities for resident assistants
- Madison, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Saint Paul, MN
- Oakland, CA
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Fresno, CA
- Portland, OR
- Toledo, OH
- Las Vegas, NV
- Milwaukee, WI
Detailed list of the best cities for a resident assistant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison, WI | $29,297 | $22,000 | 252,551 | 39 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $30,808 | $23,000 | 413,651 | 101 |
| 3 | Saint Paul, MN | $30,805 | $23,000 | 302,398 | 23 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $36,018 | $27,000 | 420,005 | 7 |
| 5 | Fort Wayne, IN | $27,219 | $20,000 | 264,488 | 20 |
| 6 | Fresno, CA | $35,431 | $26,000 | 522,053 | 5 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $32,672 | $25,000 | 639,863 | 12 |
| 8 | Toledo, OH | $26,956 | $20,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $28,243 | $21,000 | 632,912 | 5 |
| 10 | Milwaukee, WI | $29,335 | $22,000 | 595,047 | 1 |
| 11 | Lexington, KY | $25,457 | $18,000 | 318,449 | 12 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $29,214 | $21,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $26,819 | $20,000 | 855,164 | 15 |
| 14 | Bakersfield, CA | $35,021 | $26,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $28,206 | $20,000 | 303,625 | 3 |
| 16 | Mesa, AZ | $28,757 | $21,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $26,259 | $19,000 | 860,090 | 9 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $28,459 | $21,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 19 | Anchorage, AK | $32,736 | $27,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $28,813 | $21,000 | 1,615,017 | 8 |
| 21 | Long Beach, CA | $34,467 | $26,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $29,295 | $22,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 23 | San Francisco, CA | $36,060 | $27,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 24 | Colorado Springs, CO | $28,916 | $21,000 | 465,101 | 9 |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $34,572 | $26,000 | 3,976,322 | 16 |
| 26 | Newark, NJ | $32,715 | $24,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 27 | Fremont, CA | $35,943 | $27,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 28 | San Jose, CA | $35,893 | $27,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 29 | Sacramento, CA | $35,932 | $27,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 30 | Stockton, CA | $35,854 | $27,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 31 | North Las Vegas, NV | $28,210 | $21,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $27,059 | $20,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 33 | Henderson, NV | $28,182 | $21,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 34 | Arlington, TX | $25,664 | $18,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 35 | Kansas City, MO | $26,280 | $19,000 | 481,420 | 8 |
| 36 | Aurora, CO | $29,015 | $22,000 | 361,710 | 4 |
| 37 | Glendale, AZ | $28,823 | $21,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 38 | Wichita, KS | $27,731 | $20,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 39 | Saint Louis, MO | $26,035 | $19,000 | 311,404 | 14 |
| 40 | Scottsdale, AZ | $28,791 | $21,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 41 | Jersey City, NJ | $32,718 | $24,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 42 | Chandler, AZ | $28,765 | $21,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 43 | Denver, CO | $29,028 | $22,000 | 693,060 | 16 |
| 44 | Cincinnati, OH | $26,051 | $19,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 45 | Gilbert, AZ | $28,754 | $21,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 46 | Charlotte, NC | $25,452 | $18,000 | 842,051 | 9 |
| 47 | Louisville, KY | $25,519 | $19,000 | 597,337 | 2 |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $28,539 | $21,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 49 | San Diego, CA | $34,087 | $25,000 | 1,406,630 | 7 |
| 50 | Boston, MA | $31,389 | $24,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for resident assistants
| Rank | City | Avg. resident assistant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roseville, CA | $35,909 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $32,672 |
| 3 | Duluth, MN | $32,107 |
| 4 | Watertown, NY | $30,537 |
| 5 | Oshkosh, WI | $29,947 |
| 6 | Fort Collins, CO | $29,156 |
| 7 | Rockford, IL | $28,945 |
| 8 | Prescott, AZ | $28,898 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $26,819 |
| 10 | Grand Rapids, MI | $26,451 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $26,259 |
| 12 | Columbus, MS | $26,122 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $25,532 |
| 14 | Hastings, NE | $25,184 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $25,166 |
| 16 | Sioux Falls, SD | $24,529 |
| 17 | Murfreesboro, TN | $23,251 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $21,756 |
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Updated January 8, 2025