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How to hire a residential aide

Residential aide hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring residential aides in the United States:

  • There are currently 13,387 residential aides in the US, as well as 74,826 job openings.
  • Residential aides are in the highest demand in New York, NY, with 93 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a residential aide is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new residential aide to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a residential aide, step by step

To hire a residential aide, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a residential aide, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step residential aide hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a residential aide job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new residential aide
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a residential aide do?

A residential aide is responsible for assisting residents and patients in a community facility, supporting them in their daily activities and personal routines. Residential aides monitor the patients' health conditions, coordinate with medical professionals, and ensure that they receive the proper medications. They also assist the residents with their inquiries and concerns, as well as developing community programs and events, sustaining the healthy welfare of the citizens. A residential aide must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially when communicating with management and other organizations for assistance on charity works.

Learn more about the specifics of what a residential aide does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a residential aide, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect residential aide also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    Here's a comparison of residential aide salaries for various roles:

    Type of Residential AideDescriptionHourly rate
    Residential AidePersonal care aides help clients with self-care and everyday tasks. They also provide social supports and assistance that enable clients to participate in their communities.$9-15
    Support WorkerA support worker is responsible for supporting the community programs and development efforts to sustain and ensure the citizens' stability, providing them resources for their daily needs, and helping them with financial assistance requests. Support workers conduct family counseling to identify their challenges and needs and coordinate with the necessary organizations to process their requests... Show more$10-28
    Support StaffSchool support staff provide specialized instructional and student support while utilizing school facilities. They often include diverse staff members whose main role is to ensure that students learn in a supportive and safe learning environment... Show more$12-19
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Autism
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • Compassion
    • Direct Support
    • Cleanliness
    • CPR
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Home Health
    • Rehabilitation
    • Mental Illness
    • Mental Health
    • Incident Reports
    • ADL
    • Substance Abuse
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead support groups with an emphasis on recovery and strength base techniques, DBT, CBT, self-care and coping skills.
    • Provide direct patient care, understanding, and compassion for patients.
    • Train in Epi-Pen, CPR and allergic reaction emergency procedures.
    • Assist with transferring residents in and out of wheelchairs and adaptive equipment.assist with ADLs.
    • Aid patients with ADL'S which includes toilete assist, bathing, washing, dressing, cooking etc.
    • Administer medication, assisting with ADL'S, v/s, glucose monitoring, wind care, laundry and monthly paperwork.
    More residential aide duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the residential aide job description is a good way to get more applicants. A residential aide salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a residential aide in Arizona may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level residential aide. Additionally, a residential aide with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average residential aide salary

    $12.58hourly

    $26,176 yearly

    Entry-level residential aide salary
    $20,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 30, 2026

    Average residential aide salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$32,398$16
    2New York$30,356$15
    3Washington$29,051$14
    4Maryland$28,227$14
    5Connecticut$28,134$14
    6Oregon$27,489$13
    7Ohio$26,462$13
    8Pennsylvania$26,064$13
    9Florida$24,892$12
    10District of Columbia$24,533$12
    11Alabama$24,167$12
    12Texas$22,210$11
    13Michigan$21,644$10
    14North Dakota$21,365$10

    Average residential aide salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Mercy Housing and Shelter$33,650$16.182
    2Maryland School for the Blind$31,846$15.31
    3Lifeline Connections$31,801$15.296
    4Zimmerman Julie Arnp$31,521$15.151
    5Spectrum Health$31,059$14.93
    6Lifesteps$30,820$14.82211
    7Archdiocese of Philadelphia$30,701$14.7625
    8Common Ground$30,659$14.745
    9Pinnacle Treatment Centers$30,306$14.571
    10Atlantic Health$30,065$14.4526
    11Helio Health$29,187$14.03
    12Delta-T Group$28,948$13.92178
    13Sun Street Centers$28,929$13.914
    14Lahey Health Behavioral Services$28,554$13.73
    15Central Maine Healthcare$28,139$13.53
    16Peninsula Behavioral Health$27,905$13.422
    17Gaudenzia$27,837$13.38
    18Universal Health Services$27,630$13.2886
    19Gibson$27,582$13.26
    20Melmark New England$27,582$13.265
  4. Writing a residential aide job description

    A good residential aide job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a residential aide job description:

    Residential aide job description example

    Job DescriptionSalary: 12.00


    SIGN-ON BONUS


    Part-Time

    Shifts: 8 am to 2pm Saturday to Sunday



    SUMMARY

    Instructs basic self-care and independent living skills to individuals with intellectual disabilities by performing the following duties. Provides assigned individuals with disabilities with individualized support that allows them to become active, involved and valued members of their respective communities.

    ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

    Assist in monitoring and instructing residents receiving training in accordance with the resident’s lifestyle support plan

    Assist in completion of documentation, including incident reports, activity notes, seizure charts, medication records, daily log book entries, and other reports as needed

    Assist residents as needed with hygiene/self-care, including bathing, dressing, etc.

    Administer medications as prescribed by physician and in accordance with Department of Mental Health regulations

    Ensure residents complete assigned household duties

    Assist in maintenance of household and training equipment and supplies

    Reports malfunctions and needed repairs and supplies for house, appliances, vehicles or equipment to the house manager in a timely manner

    Prepare and serve meals for resident in accordance with posted menu plans

    Assist residents in assuring laundry is completed regularly

    Transport residents to day habilitation programs, community outings, appointments, or to other activities as needed, and assist in loading and unloading of vehicles

    Assist residents in engaging in recreational/leisure activities

    Build relationships with people in the community and to help people in the community become more welcoming and understanding of the people we support

    Serve as an advocate for the individuals we support, especially while in the community

    Be a role model for appropriate community social interactions

    Serve as ambassadors for the mission and vision of the Arc

    Provide support without being intrusive or unnecessarily intervening in the individual’s activities and interactions with the public.

    Avoid actions that single out or stigmatize the individuals we support

    Treat individuals with disabilities as competent, productive and valued people to show the way for others in the community

    Understand and respect cultural preferences of the individuals supported

    Provides training and support to address activities of daily living and personal care as needed to include:

    Mobility assistance, including transferring and positioning per prescribed plans

    Toileting, including carrying out prescribed toileting plans

    Eating, including carrying out prescribed dining plans

    Behavioral support – including carrying out formal behavioral support plans

    Monitor residents during daily routine, on community outings, while being transported.

    Document any circumstances affecting the emotional or physical well-being of residents.

    Assist in conducting routine fire, tornado, and severe weather drills as scheduled

    Assist in maintaining a clean, safe environment in the home, including performing regular cleaning tasks

    Be punctual and in attendance at work as scheduled in order to ensure required staffing ratios are met and to maintain client safety and wellbeing at all times

    CHARACTERISTICS: Self-directed and organized, innovative, having a strong personal work ethic, good communication skills, including listening, ability to engage and “draw out” others, decision-making ability, crisis management skills, professional personal presentation, committed advocate, able to teach and train in functional settings, understand how to provide support from “behind the scenes” and are connected in the community

    SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES : There are no supervisory responsibilities assigned to this position.

    QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: High school diploma or GED


    LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

    MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.


    REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

    PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds while assisting individuals served or during the process of implementing a physical restraint on an individual.

    WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.


    Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Current Alabama driver's license

  5. Post your job

    To find the right residential aide for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with residential aides they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit residential aides who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your residential aide job on Zippia to find and recruit residential aide candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with residential aide candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new residential aide

    Once you have selected a candidate for the residential aide position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new residential aide first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a residential aide?

There are different types of costs for hiring residential aides. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new residential aide employee.

Residential aides earn a median yearly salary is $26,176 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find residential aides for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $9 and $15.

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