Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a resident care associate and how to become one
You will find resident care associates in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Their job is to provide care and support to residents. You will be expected to assist them in their daily living. Your duties will range from aiding them with tasks such as bathing, washing, cooking, or cleaning to assisting them in social activities such as going out, taking walks. You must also ensure that patients take their prescribed medications.
Some tasks you are likely to perform in your daily roles include providing behavioral and emotional support and supervision for those with dementia and Alzheimer's, following the right procedures in emergencies and assisting with ADL's, medication assistance, dining room services, answering telephones, and front desk monitoring.
Resident care associates earn an average annual salary of $32,000 at the rate of $15.8 an hour. You need a reasonable level of empathy, resilience, and kindness to work as a resident care associate. A high school diploma degree can suffice for this role, along with a certification as a medical assistant.
What general advice would you give to a resident care associate?
Jeanne Martin PhD, MSN, RN, CNE
Clinical Associate Professor
Avg. Salary $30,497
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 36%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.03%
Asian 8.68%
Black or African American 9.95%
Hispanic or Latino 17.22%
Unknown 4.20%
White 58.93%
Genderfemale 85.39%
male 14.61%
Age - 50American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 50Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Resident care associate career paths
Key steps to become a resident care associate
Explore resident care associate education requirements
Start to develop specific resident care associate skills
Skills Percentages Resident Care 23.99% Administer Medications 13.33% RCA 12.29% Assist Residents 7.06% Emergency Situations 6.39% Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed resident care associate usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed resident care associate in most of states. 25 states require resident care associates to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License url Alaska Degree required Third-party exam required Nurse Aide Arkansas Specific course required Both state and third-party exams required Nursing Assistant (Certified) California Specific course required State exam required Certified Nurse Assistant Colorado Specific course required State exam required Nurse Aide Connecticut Specific course required State exam required Nurses Aide Gain additional resident care associate certifications
More About CertificationsResident care associate 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 care associate certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for resident care associates include Medical Assistant and Medical G.A.S. Installer (Med).
Research resident care associate duties and responsibilities
- Assist Alzheimer patients with daily activities including personal care, administering medications and communicating with their families.
- Assist in rehabilitation to transfer home.
- Have been train to administer medication, CPR train, and mechanical lift train.
- Maintain cleanliness throughout med pass, and practice aseptic technique when pouring and assisting with medication.
Prepare your resident care associate resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your resident care associate 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 care associate 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 care associate resume templates
Build a professional resident care associate 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 care associate resume.
Apply for resident care associate jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a resident care associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first resident care associate job
Are you a resident care associate?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average resident care associate salary
The average resident care associate salary in the United States is $30,497 per year or $15 per hour. Resident care associate salaries range between $24,000 and $38,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do resident care associates rate their job?
Resident care associate reviews
Very fulfilling and rewarding
Hard work, not enough staff, mandated a lot. Under appreciated!
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.
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.
Nothing
Updated January 8, 2025
