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Job outlook for residential instructors in the United States
Residential instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected residential instructor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 52,400 new jobs for residential instructors are projected over the next decade.
Residential instructor salaries have increased 22% for residential instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 115,624 residential instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 60,002 active residential instructor job openings in the US.
The average residential instructor salary is $29,695.
Are residential instructor jobs in demand?
Residential instructor job and salary trends over time
Residential instructor jobs over time
Residential instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 115,624 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 116,778 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 178,849 | 0.05% |
| 2018 | 330,891 | 0.10% |
| 2017 | 308,093 | 0.09% |
Average residential instructor salary over time
Residential instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,695 | $14.28 | +5.9% |
| 2024 | $28,038 | $13.48 | +5.7% |
| 2023 | $26,525 | $12.75 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | $25,544 | $12.28 | +4.9% |
| 2021 | $24,344 | $11.70 | +2.3% |
Residential instructor jobs by state
Most common states for residential instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,530 | 37% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 191 | 20% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 976 | 18% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,969 | 15% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 112 | 15% |
| 6 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,159 | 13% |
| 7 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 170 | 13% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 138 | 13% |
| 9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 2,338 | 12% |
| 10 | Alaska | 739,795 | 87 | 12% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 612 | 11% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 357 | 11% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 117 | 11% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 985 | 10% |
| 15 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 850 | 10% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 639 | 10% |
| 17 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 503 | 10% |
| 18 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 356 | 9% |
| 19 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 157 | 9% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 55 | 9% |
Most common cities for residential instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bell | 1 | 3% | $36,903 |
| 2 | Daytona Beach | 1 | 2% | $21,032 |
| 3 | New York | 1 | 0% | $30,809 |
Residential Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of residential instructor experts
Hope College
Hope College
University of Virginia
Texas State University
Kent State University
What skills stand out on Residential Instructor resumes?
Dawn DeWitt-Brinks: When I look at a resume, I am not just looking for a list of skills. I am looking for the application of skills. I am looking for internship experiences or past job experiences that demonstrate hard and soft skill development and application. I believe that the best predictor of future performance is past performance. If you want to be a Communication Skills Instructor, I would recommend starting as an intern - which will help build your skillset under the guidance of someone already working in the profession.
What soft skills should all Residential Instructors possess?
Dawn DeWitt-Brinks: The most important soft skill that a Communication Skills Instructor can possess is the skill of coaching. A Communication Skills Instructor is basically a skills coach. You need to walk alongside your students/clients to help them grow their communication skill set. You need to be able to assess where their skills are currently, set a plan in place, and put that plan into action - while encouraging your student/client every step of the way.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Residential Instructors?
Dawn DeWitt-Brinks: One growing area within the profession is teaching students/clients how to communicate effectively using technology. Presenting live and pre-recorded webinars and leading effective online meetings requires technical skills and knowledge of computers and software. As a Communication Skills Instructor, you need to teach the soft skills of presenting effectively online, but you also need to teach the technical skills of using the equipment and software and how to troubleshoot when problems with technology arise.
What skills will help Residential Instructors earn the most?
Dawn DeWitt-Brinks: You will earn the most if you have experience, expertise, or a background in a specific field, for example, health care or computer programming, and combine that expertise with teaching communication skills. Communication skills instructors who work as corporate trainers specializing in teaching communication skills within a particular field have the greatest earning potential. Many organizations, especially in highly specialized or technical fields, find that their employees need specific training in developing strong communication skills in group and interpersonal settings. Businesses are willing to hire internal or external communication skills instructors to teach those skills through corporate training seminars and private coaching sessions.
What skills stand out on Residential Instructor resumes?
Dawn DeWitt-Brinks: When I look at a resume, I am not just looking for a list of skills. I am looking for the application of skills. I am looking for internship experiences or past job experiences that demonstrate hard and soft skill development and application. I believe that the best predictor of future performance is past performance. If you want to be a Communication Skills Instructor, I would recommend starting as an intern - which will help build your skill set under the guidance of someone already working in the profession.
M. Rachel Tighe Ph.D.
Department ChairUniversity of Virginia
Department of Communication Studies
What soft skills should all Residential Instructors possess?
M. Rachel Tighe Ph.D.: -Interest in working with undergraduates
-Willing to be available to students
-Positive student evaluations
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Residential Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rodney Rohde Ph.D.: There are large vacancy rates all over the country. This is a good news/bad news issue. However, with a degree in medical laboratory science (also known as a clinical laboratory science) AND certification, one can find employment anywhere in the U.S. One of the great things about this career is that graduates honestly can decide where they "fit best" with regard to geography and employer (urban, rural, large, or small).
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Residential Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jay Dorfman: There are certainly some states with teacher shortages, but that is often because those states' political or economic climates make them less desirable as a place for teachers to work. If teachers' teaching conditions and salaries were improved, there would be more people interested in entering the profession. That said, I typically tell students that the broader their search for a job can be, the more likely they are to find a good fit.