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Job outlook for resident assistants in the United States
Resident assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected resident assistant job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 52,400 new jobs for resident assistants are projected over the next decade.
Resident assistant salaries have increased 13% for resident assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 54,897 resident assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 19,033 active resident assistant job openings in the US.
The average resident assistant salary is $29,971.
Are resident assistant jobs in demand?
Resident assistant job and salary trends over time
Resident assistant jobs over time
Resident assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54,897 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 58,579 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 60,805 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 60,315 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 60,719 | 0.02% |
Average resident assistant salary over time
Resident assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,971 | $14.41 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $29,221 | $14.05 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $28,129 | $13.52 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $27,604 | $13.27 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $26,512 | $12.75 | +3.2% |
Resident assistant jobs by state
Most common states for resident assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 938 | 17% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 82 | 12% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 68 | 9% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 59 | 8% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 508 | 7% |
| 6 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 555 | 6% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 362 | 6% |
| 8 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 115 | 6% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 87 | 6% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 49 | 6% |
| 11 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 33 | 6% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 578 | 5% |
| 13 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 360 | 5% |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 294 | 5% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 274 | 5% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 145 | 5% |
| 17 | Delaware | 961,939 | 49 | 5% |
| 18 | New York | 19,849,399 | 871 | 4% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 390 | 4% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 49 | 4% |
Most common cities for resident assistants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roseville | 10 | 28% | $30,846 |
| 2 | Chanhassen | 7 | 27% | $30,705 |
| 3 | Edina | 9 | 18% | $30,739 |
| 4 | Mankato | 7 | 17% | $30,370 |
| 5 | Minnetonka | 8 | 15% | $30,738 |
| 6 | Burnsville | 8 | 13% | $30,671 |
| 7 | Rochester | 13 | 11% | $30,347 |
| 8 | Shakopee | 4 | 10% | $30,669 |
| 9 | Grand Rapids | 16 | 8% | $26,451 |
| 10 | Troy | 4 | 8% | $30,294 |
| 11 | Lakeville | 4 | 6% | $30,624 |
| 12 | Saint Paul | 11 | 4% | $30,805 |
| 13 | Bloomington | 3 | 4% | $30,706 |
| 14 | Minneapolis | 5 | 1% | $30,808 |
Resident Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of resident assistant experts
University of the Incarnate Word
David Perryman Ph.D.
InstructorUniversity of the Incarnate Word
Department of Communication Arts
What soft skills should all Resident Assistants possess?
David Perryman Ph.D.: I value the following soft skills:
-Organizational skills: managing multiple assignments concurrently, understanding priorities, setting project timelines, meeting deadlines.
-People skills: the ability to listen carefully and ask good questions, appreciation for the importance of teamwork, relational focus (vs. transactional focus), ability to communicate verbally/face-to-face in a credible, authentic and professional manner.
-Strategic thinking: the ability to understand how their day-to-day work and individual projects help advance an organization's mission and achieve long-term strategic goals.