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The differences between residential advisors and residential specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a residential advisor has an average salary of $33,593, which is higher than the $33,451 average annual salary of a residential specialist.
The top three skills for a residential advisor include patrol, substance abuse and behavior management. The most important skills for a residential specialist are mental health, crisis intervention, and CPR.
| Residential Advisor | Residential Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $33,593 | $33,451 |
| Hourly rate | $16.15 | $16.08 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 47,150 | 49,467 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 26 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
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.
The residential specialist job is to provide quality support services to consumers that enhance physical, emotional, intellectual, vocational, communication, and social skills according to the individual's needs, abilities, and choices. Their duties and responsibilities include following the guidelines given by their agencies and assisting clients as needed according to their daily plan and schedule.
Residential advisors and residential specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residential Advisor | Residential Specialist | |
| Average salary | $33,593 | $33,451 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $44,000 | Between $25,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Edison, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | California |
| Best paying company | Dynamic Educational Systems, Inc. | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a residential advisor and a residential specialist in terms of educational background:
| Residential Advisor | Residential Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Howard University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between residential advisors' and residential specialists' demographics:
| Residential Advisor | Residential Specialist | |
| Average age | 26 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.3% Female, 57.7% | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 12.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 11% |