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The differences between residential assistants and residential counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a residential assistant, becoming a residential counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a residential counselor has an average salary of $34,117, which is higher than the $30,918 average annual salary of a residential assistant.
The top three skills for a residential assistant include direct care, developmental disabilities and mental health. The most important skills for a residential counselor are direct care, medication administration, and mental health.
| Residential Assistant | Residential Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $30,918 | $34,117 |
| Hourly rate | $14.86 | $16.40 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 91,326 | 81,287 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A residential assistant is in charge of overseeing the living conditions of students in a university or similar establishment. They are primarily responsible for assisting students and making them feel at ease within the dormitory or campus community. Moreover, a residential assistant must respond to inquiries and concerns, handle and settle any issues or problems, take part in organizing activities that are beneficial to the students, and keep them informed on all community-related updates. Furthermore, it is crucial to adhere to and implement the campus rules and regulations at all times, maintaining a safe environment for everyone.
A residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences. A residential counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to ensure the development of residents in a living facility.
Residential assistants and residential counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residential Assistant | Residential Counselor | |
| Average salary | $30,918 | $34,117 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $37,000 | Between $27,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | University of California | The Evergreens |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Education |
There are a few differences between a residential assistant and a residential counselor in terms of educational background:
| Residential Assistant | Residential Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between residential assistants' and residential counselors' demographics:
| Residential Assistant | Residential Counselor | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 7.1% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 15% |