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Residential advisor vs community advisor

The differences between residential advisors and community advisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a community advisor has an average salary of $65,055, which is higher than the $33,593 average annual salary of a residential advisor.

The top three skills for a residential advisor include patrol, substance abuse and behavior management. The most important skills for a community advisor are energy efficiency, residential life, and crisis management.

Residential advisor vs community advisor overview

Residential AdvisorCommunity Advisor
Yearly salary$33,593$65,055
Hourly rate$16.15$31.28
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs47,15051,226
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age2626
Years of experience--

What does a residential advisor do?

Residential advisors are responsible for coordinating activities in various residential buildings and facilities, such as group homes and dormitories. They perform various tasks that include ordering supplies, determining the need for maintenance and repair, and assigning rooms. Residential advisors may help residents with solving their problems or connect them to counseling services or resources. Also, they are responsible for providing first aid or seeking medical assistance in times of emergency, and mediating conflicts between residents. They are also expected to implement rules and regulations for the orderly and smooth operation of residential facilities.

What does a community advisor do?

The duties of a community advisor depend on their line of work or place of employment. In universities, a community advisor plays a vital role in helping residing students attain a positive learning and living environment. Their responsibilities typically include meeting with residents to identify their needs, providing assistance in academic and community concerns, answering inquiries, and resolving issues promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, a community advisor may develop programs or projects for the residents, all while adhering to the university's policies and regulations.

Residential advisor vs community advisor salary

Residential advisors and community advisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Residential AdvisorCommunity Advisor
Average salary$33,593$65,055
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $44,000Between $38,000 And $110,000
Highest paying CityEdison, NJWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNorth DakotaCalifornia
Best paying companyDynamic Educational Systems, Inc.Southern California Edison
Best paying industryManufacturingGovernment

Differences between residential advisor and community advisor education

There are a few differences between a residential advisor and a community advisor in terms of educational background:

Residential AdvisorCommunity Advisor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeHoward UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Residential advisor vs community advisor demographics

Here are the differences between residential advisors' and community advisors' demographics:

Residential AdvisorCommunity Advisor
Average age2626
Gender ratioMale, 42.3% Female, 57.7%Male, 44.5% Female, 55.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.0% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 7.7% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 14.4% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 6.6% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between residential advisor and community advisor duties and responsibilities

Residential advisor example responsibilities.

  • Engage, educate and empower participants to access community base resources in order to achieve greater self-determination, rehabilitation and recovery.
  • Assist medical and clinical staff who cares for patients admit to a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.
  • Help with activities of daily life, such as groceries shopping.
  • Check mail, shopping for groceries and handling and maintaining individual's money.
  • Provide training and administer first aid and emergency medical procedures, such as CPR.
  • Lead staff member on cottage and assume cottage manager duties when RAS is not present.
  • Show more

Community advisor example responsibilities.

  • Provide one-to-one contact, conflict mediation, and referral services to residents.
  • Coordinate and supervise weekly staff meetings, changing programming requirements, and mediation.
  • Care for individuals with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, physical disability, those undergoing post-operative recovery and convalescents.
  • Plan and execute internal communications activities, as well as provided guidance and support to leadership on communication execution.
  • Provide leadership and ensure implementation of support programs require to deliver a complete and rewarding work experience for student team.
  • Train to administer basic first responder first aid as necessary to youth, including, cardiopulmonary and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Residential advisor vs community advisor skills

Common residential advisor skills
  • Patrol, 10%
  • Substance Abuse, 8%
  • Behavior Management, 7%
  • Intellectual Disabilities, 6%
  • Direct Care, 6%
  • Independent Living, 5%
Common community advisor skills
  • Energy Efficiency, 22%
  • Residential Life, 13%
  • Crisis Management, 5%
  • Strategic Communications, 5%
  • Press Releases, 4%
  • Policy Violations, 4%

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