Post job

Residential trainer vs life skills instructor

The differences between residential trainers and life skills instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a residential trainer and a life skills instructor. Additionally, a residential trainer has an average salary of $34,217, which is higher than the $30,844 average annual salary of a life skills instructor.

The top three skills for a residential trainer include developmental disabilities, data collection and independent living. The most important skills for a life skills instructor are developmental disabilities, CPR, and kids.

Residential trainer vs life skills instructor overview

Residential TrainerLife Skills Instructor
Yearly salary$34,217$30,844
Hourly rate$16.45$14.83
Growth rate12%19%
Number of jobs54,60864,039
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4337
Years of experience1212

Residential trainer vs life skills instructor salary

Residential trainers and life skills instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Residential TrainerLife Skills Instructor
Average salary$34,217$30,844
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $45,000Between $21,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City-Norwich, CT
Highest paying state-Connecticut
Best paying company-University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between residential trainer and life skills instructor education

There are a few differences between a residential trainer and a life skills instructor in terms of educational background:

Residential TrainerLife Skills Instructor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at BinghamtonUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Residential trainer vs life skills instructor demographics

Here are the differences between residential trainers' and life skills instructors' demographics:

Residential TrainerLife Skills Instructor
Average age4337
Gender ratioMale, 26.7% Female, 73.3%Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.0% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage11%13%

Differences between residential trainer and life skills instructor duties and responsibilities

Residential trainer example responsibilities.

  • Manage situations through effective oral communication skills and PMT restraint.
  • Assist consumers with daily ADL skills.
  • Implement training and interventions as outlined in ISP and behavioral treatment plan.
  • Promote continuity of care by accurately and completely communicating to other caregivers the status of patients for which care is provided.
  • Document progress and communicate to MHMR case manager.

Life skills instructor example responsibilities.

  • Train and experience at managing challenging classroom situations using CPI methods and positive behavior reinforcement practices.
  • Conduct classes to certify individuals in first aid, CPR, a, environmental emergencies, and pediatric asthma care.
  • Teach lifesaving CPR, a (automate external defibrillator), and first aid courses for the medical and non-medical communities.
  • Provide educational, residential, and support services for children and adolescents with development disabilities, including autism.
  • Provide services to adolescents and adults requesting treatment and educational programs that have been diagnose with autism and behavior disorders.
  • Provide leadership and direction to new and existing staff members; identify training development assuring that training/certification are obtained and maintain.

Residential trainer vs life skills instructor skills

Common residential trainer skills
  • Developmental Disabilities, 17%
  • Data Collection, 14%
  • Independent Living, 7%
  • Meal Preparation, 7%
  • Medication Administration, 7%
  • Doctor Appointments, 5%
Common life skills instructor skills
  • Developmental Disabilities, 10%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Kids, 7%
  • Adaptive, 6%
  • Independent Living, 6%
  • Incident Reports, 5%

Browse community and social services jobs